Beech Tree News Network

The Morgantown City Council unveiled their Morgantown Renaissance plan, and the Mayor gave his State of the City address at Thursday’s monthly meeting.  MPD officers were also recognized for their efforts to combat a recent crime spree.

 
City Administrator Jerrod Barks presented the Morgantown Renaissance plan, developed over five months and motivated, according to Brooks, by the widely circulated study showing Morgantown as the 16th poorest U. S. city over 1,000 population.  Barks stated that poverty was concentrated in Morgantown, with the city having a 52% poverty rate compared to 25% in Butler County.  A survey of over 300 community members showed a perception that there were too many public low income housing units in Morgantown, but the data show that Housing Authority residents have an income $2,849 per year higher than the city as a whole.  Barks stated that rental housing in Morgantown has increased to 60% of the city’s housing, three out of five houses.  In downtown, there is a 50% vacancy rate in buildings, and Barks said the city has no ordinances to effectively inspect downtown buildings.
 
The Morgantown Renaissance plan has three parts: downtown development, infrastructure, and quality of life.  Highlights of the plan include creating an ordinance to condemn property and institute eminent domain, creating a Downtown District, renovating City Hall, creating the first sidewalk ordinance since 1954, increasing standards for mobile homes, continuing Morgantown Clean Up Program efforts, creating a Gateways Plan for city and cemetery entrances, and incorporating the International Property Maintenance Code into city policy.CLICK HERE FOR THE RENAISSANCE PLAN PRESENTATION Downtown Development and Revitalization Plan Final-1.pdf
 
Mayor Billy Phelps underscored that three out of five houses in the city are rentals and one-half of the city’s households are in poverty.  The property proposals within Morgantown Renaissance will “make owners mad” according to Phelps, but he said the city must move forward with the plan or “we might as well throw it in the trash.”  Council member Russell Givens added that the city must improve the standards of housing.  Council member Dionne Merritt added that “we have to change the mindset” of people in the community, and Russell Givens said that the Planning and Zoning board has changed their mindset over the last six years.  Council member Gary Southerland said that staffing of area industry is an issue, and he along with several city officials mentioned the upcoming job fair on January 27.
 
In his State of the City address, Phelps said the city has moved forward in spite of tight budgets.  Phelps listed grants the city received in 2015 such as the one to improve Boat Factory Road, and he touted the tightening of organizational structure and ordinances and said in 2015 the city “enforced ordinances that had previously been cast aside.”  He said the “ongoing saga with Kentucky Copper” adds uncertainty; Kentucky Copper paid $745,000 to the city but did not purchase their building in December.  Phelps said “we must be cautious” with the budget because of Kentucky Copper, but he said with the tight budget “we’ve bought ourselves another year.”  Phelps encouraged citizens to come to Council meetings and get more involved in the city’s business. CLICK HERE FOR THE MAYOR'S STATE OF CITY ADDRESSState of the City 2016.docx
 
Morgantown Police Department officers were recognized during the meeting by Chief Charles Swiney and Mayor Phelps for their efforts in the recent rash of burglaries and car break-ins.  Swiney said because of MPD efforts, four juveniles and one adult have been charged so far.  Phelps gave each officer the Mayor’s Pin.
 
In other business, the Council reappointed Dale Adcock to the Utility Board.  Mayor Phelps told the Council that the concession stand at the city park lost $500 last year, and he said the Sno Shack will operate the concession stand this year and pay the city $1,000.

Story by Don Thomason, Beech Tree News