Thursday, March 28th, 2024
Categories
News

Millersville and LIMC Win Governor’s Award

Intergovernmental Cooperation Award for MU.

Millersville University and the Lancaster Inter-Municipal Committee (LIMC) received the “Governor’s Award for Local Governance Excellence” at the Governor’s reception in Harrisburg on April 15th.  The Millersville-LIMC partnership was recognized under the category of “intergovernmental cooperation.”

LIMC is a council of governments established to address municipal challenges and concerns in central Lancaster County. Its main focus centers on facilitating cooperation and coordinating programs and activities among the members. In 2014, LIMC moved its offices to Adams House on Millersville’s campus to cut costs and give students more opportunities through internships and volunteer work.  “It is a great honor to receive this intergovernmental cooperation award,” said Dr. Victor DeSantis, Associate Provost for Millersville’s Civic and Community Engagement and Research Project (CCERP). “As a public university, Millersville is strongly committed to partnerships like this one to support communities and improve the quality of life in the region.  Having LIMC on campus is a great benefit to our students with respect to internships and joint programs such as the new Municipal Officials/Staff Training Program. ”

Since its inception in 2012, the Millersville-LIMC partnership has given students and faculty the opportunity to conduct significant GIS fieldwork, while providing area municipalities with rich data resources. The most notable project has been the “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems Outfall Mapping Project” which was conducted by faculty and students from the geography department. Students located, mapped, and recorded water outfalls – water that runs into a sewer drain – to determine harmful discharges from storm sewers and open pipes. This two-year project allowed LIMC municipalities to gain compliance with EPA regulations while having a significant reduction in costs.

“The LIMC has a champion in the team at MU,” said Amber Green, Manor Township Supervisor and LIMC board member. “Dr. Victor DeSantis helped the LIMC re-shape our mission and provided the LIMC with the ability to integrate students into our respective municipalities. Our joint partnership has pioneered a multitude of successful projects with a student-centered and regional focus. I expect great things to continue out of our partnership.”

 

Leave a Reply