GREENVILLE

   » Greenville Municipal Authority board members voted Tuesday to team up with Pennsylvania Rural Water Association and consumers to improve the water company's image. The story ran Wednesday.

"This is one of the best run water systems in the state and probably the most valuable local asset. It touches everyone's lives every day," said Penny McCoy, a management-support specialist with the Bellefonte, Pa.-based association.

"What we want to do, at no charge, is to help you put positive PR (public relations) out there and let consumers know what you do here," Ms. McCoy added. "The main purpose of public relations is to gain and keep the public's confidence and support."

A secondary purpose of good PR -- with a potential sale of the authority's water system being considered -- is to make potential buyers aware that the system is fire-sale proof. "We don't want them (potential buyers) to think they're saving you," she said.

The authority board last month authorized Hermitage lawyer Peter Acker to begin formally exploring a potential sale of the system. Acker's first order of business was to evaluate formally the sellable assets and which ones the board may be interested in entertaining offers for, as well as determining what effect a sale to a private utility could have on employees and rates. Acker has yet to report his findings.

The board voted Tuesday to form a committee to work with Ms. McCoy.

The committee -- to be made up of one or two board members, an authority staff member and one resident each from Greenville and Hempfield Township -- is expected to start spreading good news at meetings by next month.