Morgantown settles with downtown business, votes accept FAA grants

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The city of Morgantown assumed an agreement was in place when a portion of the Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park project took a portion of the Wings Ole property owned by Dan Nagowski.

There was not an agreement. Now, after months of negotiations city council has agreed to a Settlement and Release deal with Nagowski valued at $365,000 for the encroachment.

According to documents, Nagowski acquired the property through quitclaim deed that was initiated by CSX Transportation, Inc., in April of 1998.

Nagowski made a verbal agreement with the city to allow improvements on 35-square feet of his property for restrooms at the newly renovated Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park, however the structure and walkway took about 800-square feet, or seven parking spaces.

“It will result in the transfer of the property that’s currently used as a parking lot, Kay Casto & Chaney attorney representing the city Ryan Simonton said,” And also includes now some of the park improvements such as a sidewalk, bike racks and a portion of the bathroom building.”

The city will also replace a portion of the lost parking as part of the deal.

“The city has agreed to construct two additional parking spaces,” Simonton said,” That parking lot will remain available for use by the public.”

The work was part of the $4.1 million park renovation funded by the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust.

Also, the Morgantown Municipal Airport appears to be receiving more federal grants as part of it’s continued development.

Morgantown City Council unanimously approved the acceptance of up to $2.7 million in Federal Aviation Administration funds which are designated to be used on airport developments and noise program implementations. For the case of the Morgantown Airport, the grant will be focused on the construction of Phase II on the Runway Extension Project which has already seen the first steps being taken on the project.

“There’s been some blasting as you know, and preparations for being able to move forward into Phase II and I know they are rearing to get moving,” said Morgantown City Manager Kim Haws on the project.

The funds from the FAA, come as part of a separate grant which allows for projects considered crucial to an airport’s development. For the case of Phase II of the Morgantown Airport’s Runway Extension Project, it will include the expansion of Runway 18-36 by 1,001 feet to the South and the clearing and grubbing of the environment around the location. If all goes according to plan, the project will expand the overall runway length to 6,200 feet.

“This is going to be initiated pretty darn quickly and I think it’s going to be a twelve month project to complete,” said Haws regarding the project’s time frame.

The City of Morgantown, had to make a ten percent match of the $2.7 million in federal funds, which was approved to be used from funds given to the city via the American Rescue Plan Act. The approximately $276,000 approved by council, is approximately ten percent of the total funds given by the grant, a requirement for the funds to move forward. The new funding, continues a near decade long project to help improve commerce and development around the Morgantown Municipal Airport.

“This is a huge deal,” said Morgantown Mayor Jenny Selin approving the grant acceptance. “We’ve been working on this for a long time,” she said.

Joe Nelson contributed to this story.