MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Assistant city manager, Emily Muzzarelli provided Morgantown city council members with an update on Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront park construction and unveiled a new recreation proposal.
Construction at the park is moving at a brisk pace and soon crews will be working in the area of the Walnut Street Landing.
Muzzarelli explained an opportunity that has been explored to enter into a partnership with WVU, or Adventure WVU, or BOPARC or a private entity to operate a bike and kayak rental facility in the area of the Walnut Street Landing. She explained to council members that time was a critical component, because the contractor is already onsite and negotiations were progressing with the groups from WVU.
She says WVU has expressed strong interest to partner with the facility, but a final decision has not been made. Muzzarelli says they were not able to get the final decision before presenting the proposal to council.
Muzzarelli and the mayor believe if a WVU entity does not partner on the rental facility, BOPARC or even a private contractor could step in and manage the property.
Because of the converging circumstances she recommended council give the city manager authority to negotiate the change order to build the two-story facility with March Westin. The estimated cost is between $300,000 and $400,000 and would be paid for through the Capital Escrow account.
Councilor Jenny Selin assured council members this has been a proposal under consideration by committees in the community and there is demand for riverfront recreation options.
Councilor Ron Dulaney expressed concern and caution.
“This has been in the works for along time, again it sounds great, but we get this on a Thursday and are asked to vote on it on a Tuesday, we haven’t seen it, there’s no proforma, we’re not sure if there’s a lease or not,”Dulnaey said,”I’m very uncomfortable with the way this is unfolding and being asked to approve this in this way.”
Former Rail-Trail board member Dave Harshbarger also expressed caution.
“If anybody would support this type of project it certainly would be me from my years on the Rail-Trails board,”Harshbarger said,”I feel like it’s a partial proposal, it would not be in the best interest of public money, without knowing more about the project, no diagram and no plan.”
Mayor Bill Kawecki expressed cautious support.
“We need to have these things in place in order to make it an attractive community, and you need to do them when you can do them,”Kawecki said,”If we can afford it, if it works, if we get the detail, I suggest we at least move forward on it with the proviso that we get the detail and if it doesn’t seem like it’s going to work we get the heck out of it.”
Councilor Zack Cruz told council members he is totally in favor of it, but cannot ethically approve up to $400,000 in expenditures without details.
The matter has been tabled while the city administration gathers more data and information.