MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The parking lot at the North Elementary school was as full as the attendees were with questions for the first of four public presentations regarding the proposed Morgantown annexation.
The proposal would add 3.8-square miles, more than 12,000 people and 367 businesses to the city limits.
Citizens living outside the city limits had a variety of questions but mainly had a few central themes. What how will city leaders allocate additional tax revenue? What are the benefits for me and/or my business? Why do I need city services when I’m satisfied with what I have now?
Mayor Bill Kawecki said, “It’s valuable to have vibrant community. This kind of activity is what we need to plan and grow. This is one mechanism we use to grow properly and provide services that are appropriate for our community.”
Mayor Kawecki zeroed in on the airport and said, “I’d like to see a busier airport, although we are the busiest airport currently in all of West Virginia, I’d like to see something that’s more advantagous for people who are traveling, I’d like to see more frequent commuter hops, I’d like to see a more invitng terminal, I’d like to see more activity up there in terms of businesses at the terminal, things that would attract people to it.”
Kawecki also talked about the possibility of adding a fire station on Mileground as well.
Deputy Mayor Rachel Fetty said, “I think alot of people are satisfied with services that are poor or they’re satisfied with services that could be improved.” She went on to say, “Developers and businesses that build on our borders and don’t understand the cost, the real cost of developing on the borders of an urban environment- creating an urban environment. Those folks are not doing their part in making this community what it needs to be.”
Fetty also said, ” Another solution would be for the county to do what it needs to do. Bring in some zoning, adequately fund your fire departments, start treating the areas in your borders that are urban like urban areas, pass a tax that will support the services that all county residents need and deserve.”
Director of Communication for the City of Morgantown, Andrew Stacy said, “I think it’s been really good, I mean I think we’ve had a dialogue, I think it’s went well, I think alot of questions have been answered and that’s what we’re here to do is try an answer questions and get out and talk to the people.”
The next meeting will be Monday, July 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the BOPARC Marilla Center.