MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Commissioners in Monongalia County have approved the agreement with the city of Morgantown to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to upgrade the utility infrastructure in Popenoe Run.
The need for the Upper Popenoe Run sanitary and stream restoration project came to light after two historic rains in the summer of ’21 that flooded the area along Patteson Drive and damaged several properties, according to Monongalia County Commission President Tom Bloom.
Officials from the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) then asked the city and county officials for $1 million each to address the issue. At the time, all sides agreed it was a smart allocation of ARPA dollars.
“Three thousand linear feet of new sanitary sewer main, about 1,200 linear feet of new storm sewer, and 2,800 linear feet of stream restoration for Popenoe Run between Willowdale Road and Stewart Street,” Bloom said.
This is only the initial step, but a major one, in preparing the area for future major rain events.
“It’s one step in multiple lifts that we have to take to move forward,” Bloom said. “Even though it’s only partially in the county, I think this is where the county and the city are working together to resolve the issue.”
During the 18-month period that followed, Morgantown officials introduced a new request to MUB for an agreement to allow recreational amenities at the Flegal Reservoir and Dam.
As the negotiations continued, Monongalia County Commissioners threatened to pull their $1 million share because they said it was being used as leverage in the extended Flegal Reservoir and Dam recreational facility talks between the two.
Former MUB Chairman J. T. Straface made remarks during debate on an ordinance that would have allowed the city to take more control of the utility that verified their suspicions.
“In a meeting held in the city of Morgantown office on July 19, 2022, Mayor Jenny Selin stated to MUB staff and a few board members in attendance that the city grant funds would not be provided to MUB unless and until an agreement was signed permitting recreation at Flegal Dam and Reservoir,” Straface said.
At that time, Straface made it clear the Upper Popenoe Run sanitary and stream restoration project would move forward with or without city support.
Monongalia County Commission President Tom Bloom said these types of negotiations could have killed a project like Mountaintop Beverage, which will bring up to 350 workers to the Morgantown Industrial Park and begin operations in early 2023. The project required major storm/sanitary sewer and water upgrades that had to be completed quickly.
“Eighteen months would have killed most projects, and I hope we both understand we have to work together so we can move forward,” Bloom said. “Even if it’s development in the county, it helps the city and the economic community.”
According to Bloom, similar upgrades are not far off for West Ridge and the Chaplain Hill areas. Because of recent growth in those areas, utilities are unable to support the demand for continued growth.
Protracted negotiations or a contentious relationship between the municipalities could be enough for a developer to pass Morgantown for another community, according to Bloom.
“What we learned is we can’t take 18 months,” Bloom said. “We have to work together and expedite things to move forward, or everyone is going to suffer.”
The Popenoe Run sanitary and stream restoration project is expected to go out for bid in 2023.
More financial details will be added when they are available.