For the City Council meeting on October 4, 2022.
Watch the Meeting
View the Meeting Packet
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to upcoming renovations at Morgantown City Hall, all Morgantown City Council meetings will be held in Monongalia County Commission Chambers located on the second floor of the Monongalia County Building at 243 High Street.
Meeting Highlights:
- IMPROVING COORDINATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MUB AND THE CITY
Council will discuss an ordinance amending Article 169, relating to Utility Systems. The ordinance proposes five amendments which include: - Adding a council member to the board to ensure coordination and the free flow of information.
- The board will have 1 Morgantown City Council member and 4 residential customer members.
- The second amendment to the article would add the Morgantown City Manager as a nonvoting member to ensure project coordination and plans at the operational level.
- The third amendment to the Article would give specific authority to the Board to acquire real estate and, consistent with current practice, the real estate will be acquired for “The City of Morgantown, acting by and through the Morgantown Utility Board".
- The fourth amendment to the Article would add a State law requirement for the city to approve rate increases.
- City Council now has the obligation to and does approve rates for Morgantown’s utility system and ensure they are equitable. The ordinance recites the state law requirements for rate setting.
- The fifth amendment to the Article would add a State law requirement for the city to approve construction projects.
- Recent changes to state law removed Public Service Commission jurisdiction to issue a certificate of convenience and necessity for any utility project outside the ordinary course of business for certain municipally owned water and sewer utilities, but the state law added that these projects must be noticed in customer bills and in the newspaper, then approved by resolution or ordinance of City Council. The amendment recites that state law authority.
- It also adds three definitions of projects outside the ordinary course of business:
- (1) projects that cost more than $1 million
- (2) projects that use public parks
- (3) other projects designated by Council as outside the ordinary course of business (if Council does so before construction).
- PROVISION OF STREAMLINED ANIMAL CONTORL SERVICES
Council will consider the approval of an agreement which establishes that the Monongalia County Commission will assume responsibility of employing and supervising qualified individuals who will enforce all city ordinances related to the regulation of animals. - ADDITION OF A NEW FIRST-RESPONDER TRAINING FACILITY
Council will consider a proposal for purchase of assets and lease of space at the current Defense in Depth facility. Police Chief Eric Powell has worked with the property owners on this proposal, which would establish a state-of-the-art training center for the community’s first responders, providing them with opportunities for range training, night training, and other essential support for emergency services personnel. The city would lease a 19,938 square foot space to offer this training, and it would have the capability to continue offering public access for concealed carry permit or other training.
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