MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Monongalia County Commission has approved more than $5 million in American Rescue Plan spending for local organizations. The majority of the spending is directed to water and drainage infrastructure.
Monongalia County will receive about $20 million in ARPA money total and has already set aside $10 million for broadband expansion and another $3.4 million for utility upgrades at the Morgantown Industrial Park to support future economic development.
Commissioners approved work not exceeding $400,000 in the Little Creek Public Service District. The Little Creek public Service District is located in Marion County, but more than half of its customers are in Monongalia County, according to commissioner Sean Sikora.
“We picked the project that would benefit Mon County residents the most and it’s an upgrade to the Meadow Dale Booster Pump Station along Smithtown Road in the Winfield District.”
The Clay Battelle Public Service District submitted eight projects for consideration and six of them were approved not to exceed $436,000. The major project on that list is the replacement of a key supply line.
“Seven hundred feet of 6-inch HDP line replacement on Days Run,” Sikora said. “It’s a problem section area that is part of the main supply line that transports water to Daybrook, Wadestown and Wana customers.”
Other work in the Clay Battelle Public Service District includes pipe repair on an exposed line in a stream on Jake’s Run, replacing a pump station on Behler Road, 960-feet extension of 3-inch pipe on Range Road, an 8-inch line replacement under Dunkard Creek and install a leak detection system.
Also approved are upgrades not to exceed a cost of $1 million to the drainage system in the Poponoe Run area of Morgantown. That area suffered significant flooding on two occasions during the summer of 2021. The project cost is being shared by Monongalia County, Morgantown and MUB.
About $3.1 million will be allocated to power upgrades at the Morgantown Industrial Park for Mountain Top Beverage, which is constructing a facility that is expected to be operational in November.
“Mon Power, Morgantown Industrial Park electrical upgrades,” Sikora said. ” That project is in conjunction with the company that can’t be named. These are improvements that are needed to make that project a reality.”
Monongalia County Commission President Tom Bloom noted the projects are laying the groundwork for future growth.
“I think you see the majority is water, sewage and broadband and that is economic development for the future,” Bloom said. “So, what we’re doing now is setting the tone for the next 10 to 20 years.”
Other work included $47,200 for new water and sewer service to a new event center at the West Virginia Botanic Garden, repairing a creek crossing in the Ministers Run Water Association for $20,000 and $30,000 to improve portions of the Mon River Rail Trail.