By: Joe Nelson
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The residents in the Greater Morgantown Area are working to make sure their voices are heard when it comes to annexation.
The citizen group F.A.I.R., Forced Annexation Isn’t Right, held a town hall meeting Monday night that saw more than 300 people turn out to learn more about the city’s proposed annexation plan. Of those in attendance, both residents and business owners alike spoke against the proposal.
“They are all against it,” said 4th generation landowner Donald Longfellow. “We weren’t informed of this, which I think we should have been, I would think that somewhere in the city charter when they tried to make changes to the city charter or boundaries, they’re supposed to give the public 30 days notice I assume but evidently not,” he said.
There were several concerns that were addressed during F.A.I.R.’s meeting. One very basic argument against annexation has been the lack of communication on the City of Morgantown’s part to reach out to residents before making the proposal. Most in attendance, stated that they had little to no knowledge of the four square mile boundary adjustment proposal and the city started off on the wrong foot by just having a simple email feedback link on their website.
“The majority we’ve heard from are against it, but I think that there’s still a lot of people that are uniformed about what could possibly be coming,” said Suncrest property owner Kristina Smith.
Morgantown City Councilman Ron Dulaney, who’s been the biggest city advocate for increased communication, was the only member of council in attendance at the meeting.
In discussing what would actutally happen to the 12,380 residents and 367 business that would be annexed into Morgantown city limits, the issues went beyond communication. Both residents and business owners were very concerned by the numerous increases in fees, which would be costly for property and business owners who have lived there for generations.
“We are already at six percent sales tax which is killing us,” said 3rd generation business owner Jackie Koval. “So, being at one percent and then, everybody coming in and not being able to build a house because of all the imposing taxes on them, it hits us at all angles,” she said.
There are going to be several opportunities for residents and business owners affected by the boundary change to voice their opinons. Along with more meetings by F.A.I.R. expected to be scheduled, the City of Morgantown announced this week that there will be four public meetings after the written comment period ends on June 30. There will also be opportunities to speak during council’s regular meetings and their committee of the whole.
“Everybody needs to take care of themselves,” said business owner Zip Schearer. “Don’t wait for the next person to go to the meeting, go yourself, write a letter yourself, don’t think someone else is going to do it, this is very important.”