MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) has approved the agreement allowing for recreational amenities at the Flegal Dam and Reservoir. The unanimous vote came despite concerns from board members and nearby residents.
Rich Dennis has lived along Upper Cobrun Creek Road for the last 27 years and has supported the idea of using the reservoir as a recreation area. However, he said the city has not been responsive to his questions or concerns and is worried that problems that already exist in the neighborhood will get worse.
“Our roads are atrocious. We’ve got people hanging out and doing drugs. There’s trespassing, littering and the way this seems to be planned we’re just going to see more of that,” Dennis said.
Steven Runfola has lived in the neighborhood for 13 years and is not opposed to the idea, but is worried about how facilities will be maintained after construction.
“Some people are adamantly opposed, but I would say most people are saying we don’t think they can take care it. We have no trust they can take care of this park,” Runfola said.
MUB Chairman J.T. Straface said the property owners are an important part of the project and the concerns are valid.
“The biggest concern that I agree with is that they need to be involved in some of the conversations moving forward as to what actually is going to be out there as recreation,” Straface said.
Assistant Morgantown City Manager Emily Muzzarelli said now that the agreement is approved they plan an outreach campaign to residents in the area.
“Once we get the green light to go ahead and have recreation there in the first place we’ll follow up with property owners adjacent to,” Muzzarelli said.
Morgantown City Council has already approved the contract. It still needs final approval from BOPARC, which is scheduled to vote on the agreement during its meeting on Wednesday.