Beech Tree News Network

Morgantown City Council met on January 11, 2024, with all council members attending.

Monthly and yearly reports were given by each department with Mayor Billy Phelps closing the meeting with the 2024 State of the City address. 

Morgantown Planning and Zoning (P&Z) elected their 2024 officers at their last scheduled meeting.  Planning and Zoning also reported that there were four inquiries where they did not act on any permits.  There was an inquiry made regarding a 65-unit apartment complex coming to the city, involving a future follow-up presentation to the board at their upcoming meeting. 

Two inquiries were made on storage units in the city, and one made involving a property that is zoned commercial that may be turning into residential.  No action was taken, and all inquiries were answered.  Looking back on their year, P&Z issued approximately 18 permits, 12 inquiries on zoning, approved 1 ordinance, amended 6 ordinances, and all commissioners completed required training.  In 2024 they will continue to get their training in and review their ordinance to make sure it is up to date, and that the city is protected.

The Morgantown Utility Board reported they were awarded two bids on different projects, one for the water distribution system and wastewater plant.  They will be put in separate places of the city where they can shut different areas off rather than turning the whole system off.  Both projects were grants totaling approximately $276,000.00.

The Morgantown Housing Authority reported they are at 94.4 percent occupied with 10 vacancies.  Four of the vacancies are in transfer with current tenants, two offers, and one pending.  The waiting list currently has around 96 applications and the possibility of six ineligible.  For the year of 2023 there were 19 new move-ins, which in total housed 205 minors and 222 adults.  Many things were accomplished in 2023 such as adding a wheelchair ramp to one of their  buildings and replacing all stoves and refrigerators.  110 commodity packages were delivered with the help of Community Action.  There are currently bids out for updating the flooring and furnaces in 40 units and an engineering company inspecting drainage issues.

Morgantown Tourism reported in 2023 they sponsored three events, those being Holiday Hoopla, Catfish Festival, and the Tractor Pull under the bridge.  Tourism reported between the three events, they were able to contribute approximately $37,000.  At their last meeting, the Butler County Arts Guild came to present, where they were given an application for funds in the future.  Applications are open for any organization that is looking to bring tourism to Morgantown.  They are due by March 15th. 

Morgantown Code Enforcement reported from January 2023 to the present, there were 22 new code enforcement cases, of which they were able to close out and resolve 15.  Six cases from the previous year were able to be resolved and there are currently 8 cases still open and in progress of being resolved.  Code enforcement also deals with alcohol beverage control in the city, reporting that there are 12 establishments that either serve or sell alcohol and all are up to date with the state and city. 

The Morgantown City Clerk reported successful executions of multiple events in 2023, such as Holiday Hoopla, Summer Social, Grand Re-Opening of Charles Black City Park and the opening of the 1813 Freedom Park.  The city clerk also oversaw the continuing progress of multiple grants, successfully closed out the grant for picnic tables and benches in the park, and completed the Land and Water Conservation Boat Dock grant.  A Farmer’s Market grant was awarded and they are working to integrate that with the other Land and Water Conservation Walking Trail grant.  There is also progress being made in regard to the TAP Grant – which will help get street lights installed from the parkway into the city.  

There were 33 summer employees hired, giving many opportunities for local youth.  The city clerk, Allie Lee and assistant city clerk, Kersie Sharp completed their first year of Certified Kentucky Municipal Clerk classes and are committed to completing year two next year. They have set a goal, along with tax clerk, Dana Phelps, to attend the Kentucky Municipal Clerks Academy, which will go toward their Master Municipal Clerks.  Into the new year, they will begin department requests for the new fiscal year budget. 

For the month of December, the MOGO Bus did 1,125 transports and 502 meals delivered for The Kitchen. 

For the month of December, the Morgantown Fire Department reported 4 vehicle fire accidents in the county – none in the city, 1 structure fire in the county – none in the city, 1 grass and woods fire in the county – 1 in the city, 1 call canceled in route in the county – none in the city, and 1 fatal structure fire in the county.  There were a total of 8 runs and 30 total calls for service.  In 2023, there were 146 total calls and 348 total calls for service.   

Morgantown Public Works has 4 full time employees and a 5-person jail crew that works 5 days a week.  During 2023, Public Works worked toward getting the park and 1813 Freedom Park completed for the grand opening, put up and took down Christmas lights, opened and closed the city pool, help with the install of the new boat ramp, picked up 685 loads of brush, and 210 loads of leaves for the year.  They also mowed the park, cemetery, roadways, industrial park, and fairgrounds.  Public Works installed ten road tiles and three drain boxes .  They also assisted with Halloween, Holiday Hoopla, and Summer Social. 

The Police Department reported in 2023 the city responded to 7,412 dispatch calls for service, worked 125 vehicle accidents, made 619 traffic-related stops – of those 359 traffic tickets were written, wrote 30 courtesy parking tickets, and 115 disturbances in progress.  During the year they made 146 arrests, worked 120 special details, had 216 calls where alcohol was present, answered 1,713 calls by phone directly, 26 mental health transports to Bowling Green, and opened 49 felony cases, where approximately 20.4 percent were categorized as major crimes.  There were a total of 9,125 calls for service.

In new business, there were two Morgantown Board of Adjustments members that have served previously who did not wish to continue and complete training needed.  The mayor nominated Nikki Colter and Margaret Huff, both of which the board made the motion to place on the board.