MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) will explore project opportunities to reduce flooding around the Tanglewood area and has approved a $100,000 debt service for three years to fast-track vehicle purchases and save costs.
The MUB Board of Directors approved a contract with engineering firm Strand Associates for $55,000 to conduct a preliminary report on the
feasibility of flooding remedies. The new report is also aimed at addressing flooding in the Oak Court and Acorn Village areas, which, along with Tanglewood, have reported flooding concerns after significant rain events of any kind.
“This has been on our radar screen for quite some time,” said MUB General Manager Mike McNulty. “As we have talked about the flood study and we said we would come back with some smaller projects, this dovetails right into that,” he said.
This is the second of two flood control studies that MUB has paid for since the two 100-year rain events that took place in summer 2021. After putting $40,000 into studies in early 2022, the second phase was adjusted in response to both WVU and the West Virginia Department of Highways declining participation in stormwater drainage upgrades that would’ve cost $300,000. With MUB focused on smaller projects, McNulty stated that Tanglewood residents and surrounding areas have been contacted about how the drainage upgrades will be paid for.
“The staff met with the residents of these areas and said we would bring a proposal to the board where MUB would take care of the PER (prelimiary engineering report) costs,” said McNulty on how the projects would be assessed. “Then Go back to those residents with an opinion of the costs of the project,” he said.
The $100,000 annual debt service approved by MUB is aimed to avoid delays in manufacturing and changes in the state’s purchasing contracts for vehicles, the MUB board of directors unanimously approved the measure, which will be used to address immediate vehicle needs such as loader trucks and utility vehicles. This will also allow for the exploration of new ways to save on vehicle costs when they are needed and available.
“It allows us to be able to procure more vehicles by financing than if we would’ve paid straight cash,” said MUB General Manager Mike McNulty on the debt service.
MUB expects to use the debt service for vehicle purchases as early as next year as they prepare for other acquisitions. McNulty stated to the MUB board of directors that the use of the $100,000 per year in debt service related to financed vehicle purchases will have several benefits. The most noticeable would be improved levels of cash reserves that would be consistently on hand in the event of emergencies. This in turn would result in opportunities to pay vehicles off in time to avoid any exceeded interest costs, allowing for more acquisitions if needed.
“It (cash purchases) does take its toll on our cash reserves, and it (financing) gives us flexibility,” said McNulty. “And we’ll have one of our equipment loans drop off in May for the camera truck,” he said.