Beech Tree News Network

The Morgantown City Council met in regular session Thursday night with five council members present.  The meeting was called to order by Mayor Linda Keown and following an invocation by Councilman Allen Meredith, Police Chief Swiney led the meeting in the pledge to the flag.  The minutes for previous meetings and the agenda was approved with the Butler County Rescue Squad being added on to the agenda.  The mayor discussed the Butler County HOSA 5k Color Run scheduled for next month. Jenny Joiner  explained the run.  A representative from the Butler County Rescue Squad appeared before the council to present their expense and income report and a detailed report to justify their request for $5000.00 , the council said they would discuss it and let them know at a later date about the request. 
Two representatives of the Butler County Girls Softball league addressed the council about several issues.  They thanked the council for ordering new bases for the fields and asked when the electrical scoreboard will be finished, expressing their desire for it to be finished by Sept. 27, when they will be hosting a multi team tournament.  The council advised them that they are waiting for WRECC to schedule a bucket truck to come down to do the work and the time frame depended on them.  The representatives asked if any council members would volunteer to help at the tournament, working in 2 hour blocks and several members said they would let them know in the next few days.
Police Chief Swiney gave his monthly report stating that they had increased patrols at the schools and that people were responding favorably.  He also reported that his department sent seven cases to the Grand Jury and that, thanks to the increased patrolling of the park, that it has been quiet at the park.  He praised the city for the corvette parade, saying it went smoothly with no problems.  He has ordered two new police cars and they should arrive by the end of October.
Major Keown also praised the corvette parade and thanked everyone for their support, stating it was a lot of hard work, but well worth it.  Several council members also talked about the parade and how successful it was.  Russell Givens talked about the Farm Bureau booth at the state fair, saying that they have spaces for different communities to set up and said that the city should look into getting some space next year.  The council also talked about the Butler County Arts Guild, who are presenting a concert a the mural on Tues. Oct. 14 featuring Greg Martin of the Ky. Headhunters and that it is a free show. 
Mayor Keown said that the Trane energy audits of city buildings are still underway and that the Taxmaster program will begin training employees next week so that the city will be able to take credit cards for real estate taxes.  It was mentioned that the machine will pay for itself with the fees that will be paid by citizens to use their cards.  Mayor Keown also talked about the commission being formed to look at taking action on the Rochester Dam and that the city and county will be working with the trail towns group to help develop more outdoor tourism in the county.  Terrell House will be the city contact person to work with people who have specific interests, such as horseback trails, walking trails, canoeing and more.  She stated that when the process got further on, there will be grants to help available to help build the trails.  She also reported on the old brick sidewalk at the mural, which is the oldest sidewalk in town.  It was cleaned last week and the hope is to repair it and put up a historic sign. 
The council then discussed the Morgantown Public Nuisances and Blighted Property Ordinance which the planning and zoning commission recommended writing a new ordinance and repeal the old ones.  Following a motion by Terrell House and a second by Russell Givens, the council voted to accept the commissions recommendation.  The ordinance will now be set for the first reading after the council repeals the old ordinance.