MORGANTOWN — Communication is key for every successful relationship and the same can be said about the interactions between the municipal and county governments in Monongalia County.
Recently, relationships between the Monongalia County Commission and some municipal governments have been strained for a variety of reasons. Both candidates running for the Monongalia County Commission, Tom Bloom (D) and Andrew Price (R) want to see those relationships improve for the enhancement of the county overall.
“We need to get the various groups together and talk. We just have a lot of animosity and resource fighting right now and it has to stop,” remarked Price during a recent debate with incumbent Tom Bloom on Morgantown AM.
The Monongalia County Commission is spending over $12,000 to provide a mediator in an effort to open up lines of communication between the local governments. It’s something Price feels is not the best use of taxpayer money but still believes is a worthwhile effort.
Bloom, the current commission president, pointed out local government leadership meetings have been occurring from some time and continue on a regular basis.
“We continually have leadership meetings that allow these discussions. Basically it was out of those meetings that allowed for the new Mountaineer Center that has the new swimming complex and track,” Bloom explained.
There is also a limit to which the county commission can get involved with other municipal governments.
“The bottom line is, we can’t force the cities to do anything and there are some cities who get very upset because they feel we are interfering,” said Bloom.
For Price, the issue of communication, or a lack thereof, extends beyond just the municipal governments in Monongalia County. He believes there is a disconnect between the county commission and the residents and thinks he can bridge the perceived divide.
“If a county commissioner walks out to a community center and they can’t identify your face, people ask me ‘who are you running against?’ That shows to me you’re not connected with the various groups and entities and neighborhood associations,” remarked Price. “They’re not hearing or seeing any county commissioners. I realize you have to watch what you say and can’t speak for the entire county commission at these meetings but you can at least show up.”
Bloom took exception to the notion that during his term as a commissioner, he has remained holed up in his office and has not been out in the community.
“There are a lot of things you can say about me where people may agree or disagree but one they would definitely all agree on, I am out in the community and I’m always being seen,” Bloom responded. “I believe I’m very accessible and the county commission is very accessible and one of my biggest strengths.”