MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The acquisition of water and sewer utilities of the town of Star City by the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) has cleared another hurdle.
The MUB board of directors formally approved the acquisition of the system with just over 875 as part of a 4-0 vote during their regular meeting Tuesday night. Board President Barbara Parsons and Board Member representing the city Mark Downs were unable to attend. The proposal moves forward after being originally presented by Star City officials back in March, with final approval now pending by the Morgantown City Council and West Virginia Public Service Commission for different aspects of the agreement.
“It’s an asset agreement for the water and sanitary sewer system that has been negotiated between the parties,” said McNulty. “In addition, it also proposes an operation and maintenance agreement for the stormwater system.”
The terms of the acquisition include the transfer of around 10.5 miles of water main that accounts for the Star City water utility. Based on the data presented to MUB officials when the proposal was initially discussed, the Star City utility also produced approximately $493,000 in annual revenues during the previous fiscal year with an annual budget of just over $300,000. This is also separate from a gross plant value of approximately $557,000 that was accounted for in early 2025. Numbers that the MUB board members in attendance remained supportive of after an initial proposal acceptance in the spring.
“Subject to the approval of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, I (approve to) authorize the general manager to execute and submit the agreement to the PSC for approval,” said board member Samuel Workman. “And at the appropriate time, to seek approval from Morgantown City Council to revise MUB’s water and sewer tariffs to include Star City.”
The transfer also moves forward despite some initial concerns from Star City officials over certain aspects of the agreement. According to Star City Mayor Sharon Doyle, the implementation of tariffs to be made by the town itself instead of Morgantown City Council was a factor that led to some discussion by Star City Council on whether to move forward with the agreement as a whole. While tariff rates will increase under the MUB banner, the ability to have Star City officials control future increases and other cost factors made the decision easy to make for the town.
“We understand that Star City will have its own tariff, which is a start,” said Doyle during the meeting. “We want to move forward, we want to get everything under the same window, and this is the best for our citizens.”
With the agreement now pending approval from the Morgantown City Council, MUB board member who represents the council Mark Downs, advised council members to have the acquisition on their immediate radar. With the procedural approvals made on a utility level, a separate standard overview will take place by the West Virginia Public Service Commission, as well as a separate approval by the council in a future meeting. With a vote impending in the next few months, Downs expects to see a vote under consideration in the near future.
“I wasn’t able to attend the MUB meeting tonight, but due diligence regarding the Star City sewer and water was on the agenda,” said Downs. “It could come to council for consideration (soon).”