MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Morgantown city council voted favorably on two lease issues and debated two other reoccurring topics.
Dani Ludwig from Milan-Puskar Health right expressed dissappointment that the sharps container issue was not on the agenda.
“Yes it is the world we live in, no we don’t the power to change everything now, but we have a lot of to a lot of things that can make it a lot easier and safer.”Ludwig said,”We hanen’t ordered the containers yet and we don’t plan on ordering them until it’s voted on.”
City Manager Paul Brake explained it was not a matter of a “yes” or “no”, but a question of where the containers would be placed.
Several members of council want to hold meetings with Milan-Puskar Healthright, BOPARC and the Morgantown Public Works Department to establish protocols for handling the containers and make sure employees knew what those procedures are.
Fifth Ward councilman Ron Dulaney wanted the process to have a defined set of objectives and set amount of time.
“If we need more information, we need information, I would like to see us move faster, it’s been a month since this was brought to us and I’m not sure where we are,”Dulaney said,”It doesn’t seem like it should be that complicated, let’s get the people in the room, let’s get the information and let’s do it.”
Mayor Bill Kawecki made it clear, the council wants to do good, but they are concerned about unintended circumstances.
“It’s not going to any worse now, or later, or a month down the road than it is right at this moment,”Kawecki said,”I’m hard pressed to know if this is a life or death issue.”
Council members have agreed to hold the meetings and move the issue forward in January of 2020.
The homeless and downtown issues also came up during the city manager’s report.
Brake told council members he has received proposals from organizations that would provide consulting services. He said WVU and WVU Medicine have expressed concern and they would be willing to provide financial support for the services. Brake reminded council that the document he provided can be changed and molded to best fit the solution needed. He added it was important to have a realistic timeline.
“The disscussion of nine months to a year out does not imply when things will be implemented, but rather bring some closure to the study,”Brake said,”Further implement a plan that will probably be implemented as it goes along.”
Brake also acknowleged the task force made up of members the Mon County commission, West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness and other downtown stakeholders.
“We don’t really have time to wait, as the city is going through a more formal, in-depth process those of us who are working on initiatives will continue to that,”Dulaney said,”Hopefully we can continue to pusg forward on those to keep chipping away and getting things done as this longer process is unfolding.”