MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – During the Morgantown council committee of the whole meeting members heard a presentation from MUB about their operations and agreed to consider a resolution to make masks mandatory in all public meetings.
The MUB presentation provided councilors an understanding of the size of the system, how revenue is allocated and how MUB works with other organizations to leverage dollars to maximized the value for all involved.
A proposed flood mitigation project could provide relief for residents in the Popenoe Run area, or along Stewart Street, at the bottom of the hill west of the Suncrest Towne Centre who suffered two major events this year.
The area was left flooded during heavy rains June 13 when six inches of rain was recorded in the Suncrest area in about a three hour period. A request for a Federal Emergency Declaration was rejected following a federal assessment for property damage forms completed by residents and business owners. Again July 29, heavy rains dumped similar amounts of rain in the same area that resulted in damage to multiple businesses, up to 100 homes and a DOH bridge in Star City.
MUB storm water engineer Ken Hacker told council members a flood control study is being put together with other entities to look at the entire storm water drainage area.
“The scope is still getting developed for that study,” Hacker said,” We’ve already met with WVU and the DOH to start gauging their interest in being involved because we all have interest.”
Based on the Morgantown score sheets for American Rescue Plan spending the storm project on Popenoe Run is a priority. The project could be funded by multiple agencies including MUB, the city of Morgantown and the Monongalia County commission.
Hacker said MUB plans to allocate more than $1.5 million to capital improvements likely over the next year.
“A little over $1.7 million, that is just within the next year,” Hacker said,” That is going to depend on funding available for the Upper Popenoe Run project.”
The project would reclaim about 3,000 feet of the Popenoe Run stream just above Milan Puskar Stadium, across Willowdale Road ending on Stewart Street. The project would also replace 3,000 feet of 60-year-old, clay sanitary sewer lines in the area. A flood bench system would be incorporated into the project as well.
In a previous council meeting city manager Kim Haws said the total cost of improvements to the Popenoe Run drainage area could be around $4 million.
Hacker reviewed revenue distribution for council to give them an idea how their capital budget is funded. Hacker said half of every revenue dollar goes to the operation and maintenance of the entire system, the remainder funds debt service and capital improvements.
“Thirty-four cents of that dollar goes to debt service- paying on previously obtained bonds for capitol projects we have dome,” Hacker said,” And .16 cents of that dollar is now available for capitol projects we are going to do.”
No date was provided on when the results of that storm water study would be available.
Council members did agree to move a resolution for the next meeting agenda to make masks mandatory for all public meetings.
Third Ward councilor, Ixya Vega told fellow council members a mask mandate would help people feel safe and possibly promote more participation.
“I just think that being able to make folks feel safe coming in and coming out of our meetings, especially if we’re going to continue to have them in-person is extremely important,” Vega said,” Because we want to make them feel like they can participate.”
Bill Kawecki represents the Second Ward and said the mask mandate could be used as an incentive to encourage residents to get the vaccine.
“I agree, I think given the circumstance until this community is deemed sufficiently vaccinated we should be careful what we do indoors,” Kawecki said,” And be respectful of each other and the public.”
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 5 at 7 p.m. Meetings also broadcast and streamed from public access channel 15.