Beech Tree News Network

Morgantown City Council met on Thursday night, June 8, at the Eva J. Hawes Building.  All council members were present.

David Gilbert of Gilbert & Gilbert, P.S.C. Certified Public Accountants, presented the 2016 Audit Report for the City of Morgantown.  According to Gilbert, the City received an unqualified opinion, which is the best, and there were " No Findings," which is a first for the City of Morgantown.  In previous years there had always been a finding concerning the lack of segregation of duties necessary for an internal control structure to exist due to the size of the City and all duties performed by two employees. According to Mayor Billy Phelps, the addition of a third employee has solved this issue.
The City has doubled its net worth and has shown an excess of $557,668 in revenues over expenditures in 2016 according to Gilbert.

CLICK HERE FOR BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:Basic Financial Statements.pdf

The Council approved the second reading of the 2017-18 Budget.

CLICK HERE FOR 2017-18 BUDGET: Budget 2017-18.pdf

The Council approved the seconding reading of the Fireworks Ordinance.

CLICK HERE FOR FIREWORKS ORDINANCE:Fireworks Ordinance.pdf                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Reports were given by the following boards:

Fire Department
Calls for Service- 14
Structure Fires- City-1, County-1, Rekindle-2
Vehicle Accidents- County 4
Grass Fire- County 1
Medical Assist- City-1, County 3
Investigation- County-1

Police Department
Opened 15 criminal cases
Worked 11 non-injury accidents
617 calls for service
All officers have completed mandatory monthly training and policy review, which for the month of May was OC recertification and dealing with mentally ill persons.  Chief Giles Taylor attended two training events in Frankfort dealing with legislative updates and maintaining policy by state standards.

Housing Board
The Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of Morgantown met in regular session on Monday, May 22, 2017, at the Kent Manor Community Room with all members present.  They approved contracts for mowing the Huff Ingram property,  trash pickup, and the purchase of a new lawnmower.  Members received information on the renewal of insurance coverage, and there was no premium increase. Members expressed their appreciation to the City of Morgantown for summer workers to help maintain the care of the properties.  Work to support the wall below Tyler Street has begun.  The Boys and Girls Club will be having their Summer Camp and will be a site for the Summer Feeding Program, which allows all kids to come for breakfast and lunch and to enjoy club activities. The board will advertise for bids to put rock on the hillside along US 231 to alleviate the demand of weedeating and mowing.

Planning and Zoning
They continue to work on the Zoning Map and should have the Subdivision Regulations finalized in 60-90 days.  All required training has been completed.

Utilities Commission-No new information; will be meeting next week.

Maintenance- Busy mowing and picking up brush

City Administrator- Working on the budget, and compiling information from the surveys concerning the City Park and ball fields. 

Mayor-
"I have been talking daily with the new company buying the Kentucky Copper building.  Everything is still moving forward just waiting on all the paperwork to come together," said Mayor Phelps.
26 people are working at the pool and 13 in maintenance.

Rhonda Vaughn and Ali Johnson of Butler County Drug-Free addressed the council asking for signs to be placed in the City Park designating tobacco-free areas.

There will be a joint meeting of the City Council, Planning and Zoning Board, Code Enforcement Board, and Board of Adjustments on June 27th at 5:30 pm.