Beech Tree News Network

The Morgantown City Council held a called Meeting on Thursday, April 2nd.

The city council had their first reading of Ordinance 2026-03 - Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. City Clerk Allie Lee gave a general presentation to the council regarding the budget. There are items that were in the 2026 Fiscal Year Budget that are being continued into the 2027 Fiscal Year Budget, due to grants that are not yet completed. Work is being done to get more up-to-date information to potentially complete the TAP Grant. There is approximately $118,000 allotted for the street department to go toward a new three-fourth ton truck, three new zero turn mowers, new uniforms, road asphalt patch material, street sign posts, and street repair tiles. Around $150,000 was kept in the budget for streets, in hopes of continuing roadwork from the 10-year plan started in 2017. The police department requested two new cars and plan to hire one officer to maintain eight full-time police officers. The fire station and grant are a continuation from the previous budget. There is about $145,000 in the budget for park maintenance, which includes baseball, softball, soccer fields and city pool. The MOGO Commons is continued into the new budget, as there are potential grants to add to the current walking trail grant. After some questions regarding the redevelopment of the empty parking lot downtown and cost of living increases. Once confirmed, the council made and approved a motion of the first reading.

Five entities requested 501(c)3 donations, of which the city is only able to award $10,000 in non-profit donations. United Way of Southern KY asked for $2,500 for their 211 program ($1,500) and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program ($1,000). Herschel House Woodbury School Foundation asked for $2,500 to support the efforts of the foundation. The Butler County Arts Guild requested $2,500 to continue their support of local artists. VFW Auxiliary Post 5837 asked for $2,500. SKyPAC requested $2,500 for their membership society ($1,000) and Act Tours Program ($1,500). United Way of Southern KY, Herschel House Woodbury School Foundation, The Butler County Arts Guild, and the VFW Auxiliary Post 5837 were each granted $2,500.

The council had the first reading of Ordinance 2026-02 - Establishing Planning and Zoning Meeting Dates and Times. Previously, planning and zoning were meeting on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Due to many in attendance at their meetings being business owners, they would like to move the time of their meeting to 5:00 p.m. Motion was made and accepted.

Animal Control

For the month of March, there were eight total cases, five of which were closed. Monthly playground safety inspections began in March, utilizing a checklist provided by Kentucky League of Cities.

Planning and Zoning

Planning and Zoning will have two hearings regarding zoning changes for the IDA property and the new justice center at their April meetings.

Tourism

Tourism received 501(c) donation requests from the Butler County Arts Guild, Herschel House Woodbury School Foundation, United Way of Southern KY, and VFW Auxiliary Post 5837 – approving $1,000 for each entity. The chamber of commerce missed the deadline to submit their 501(c) donation request but did submit a request for tourism to give them $10,000. $4,500 would go to the tractor pulls, with the remaining $5,500 going toward the rose band and stage at the catfish festival. The chamber stated the stage would be called the City of Morgantown Tourism Stage. A motion was made and approved to allow tourism to grant the money requested to the chamber of commerce.

Code Enforcement

For the month of March, there were two new cases and four cases closed. There is a total of 14 open cases, with no citations given. Dustin Embry also reported there are 11 grants of interest to the city. The TAP Grant is waiting for state approval. The River Park Grant scope of change will be submitted once bids arrive for benches and trash cans. The scope of change will be sent to the state, to account for focusing funding on the bathroom facility, benches, and trash cans instead of all the trail.

Fire Department

In March, there was one structure fire in the city – one in the county, three traffic accidents in the city – three in the county, nine brush fires in the county, one medical run in the city – six in the county, three vehicle fires in the county, two calls for service in the city – three in the county.

Fire Chief, Dustin Embry updated the council on the status of the ladder truck from Horse Cave. An air leak was discovered around the brake pedal, requiring a new part. Horse Cave is making the necessary repair. Embry also reported a $12,000 grant was awarded from the Kentucky Fire Commission. They received a gear extractor, which is a high-powered washing machine made for the turnout gear firemen wear.

Public Works

Public Works picked up 27 loads of brush and leaves and started mowing the park, roadways, and dog park. They cleaned out tiles and storm grates and replaced eight tiles, before new blacktopping is completed.

Police Department

For the month of March, officers answered a total of 232 dispatch calls for service, worked four motor vehicle accidents, made 11 arrests and opened four new criminal cases. They made 27 traffic stops and wrote ten traffic citations and 17 courtesy notices, making 872 total calls for service.