Beech Tree News Network

The Morgantown City Council meeting on Thursday night took a dramatic turn as the Council heard, then rejected, a request for funding by the Boys and Girls Club, resulting in a questioning of the Council’s motives in the denial.

 
Bruce White, representing the Boys and Girls Club, addressed the Council to ask for funding from the city.  White said the Club is serving over 100 children daily between their two locations and expects growth to 115-120 children served.  The Boys and Girls Club just had their biggest fundraiser ever, according to White, as Robin and Chad Johnson's Cruise-In raised $7,500. Over 800 students are being served by the Club’s program to combat alcohol, drugs, and tobacco, a program funded by a $19,000 grant.  White said “I think our club is very important.”
 
Council member Allen Meredith moved to give the Boys and Girls Club $12,500 for the year.  During discussion, Council member Russell Givens emphasized that he had asked his fellow Council members to put funding for the Boys and Girls Club in the city budget.  Givens said he could not support funding the Club without funds budgeted.  Mayor Billy Phelps said the budget could be amended if Kentucky Copper comes through for the city.  White countered that $12,500 is a small fraction of the $1.6 million city budget and added “The county didn’t have a lot of money, but they bit the bullet” and gave to the Club.  Mayor Phelps called for a roll call vote, and the motion failed 5-1 with Meredith the lone vote in favor.  Most Council members commented as they cast their votes that the uncertainty of Kentucky Copper’s future kept them from supporting the funding request.
 
Just before the meeting was adjourned, White unexpectedly confronted the Council and asked if there was any reason other than the budget why the Council denied funding for the Boys and Girls Club.  Several members said the budget was the only reason.

 
The Council briefly discussed sidewalk issues.  City Administrative Officer Jerrod Barks told the Council that the city can be sued for negligence if a pedestrian trips and gets injured on a city sidewalk.  Russell Givens said that the Council needs to make a decision on ownership of sidewalks; Meredith added that currently property owners are responsible for maintenance and “that’s never worked.”  Council member Gary Southerland said he favors classifying sidewalks because some are more important than others. The council agreed to make a list of improvements needed.
 
The Council discussed how and whether to make Morgantown a “golf cart friendly city.”  Russell Givens said he would favor using state regulations as local standards for carts in the city.  Phelps read highlights of the relevant KRS statutes on regulating golf carts, including cart standards, inspection requirements, operating requirements, insurance, and the 35 m.p.h. speed limit.  State requirements include all drivers on streets must be licensed, and local regulations can be more stringent than state regulations.  MPD Chief Charles Swiney had no objection to regulated golf cart traffic, but he anticipated problems with young people driving.  Phelps favored drawing an ordinance, perhaps in a work session, before the next meeting.
 
Meredith told the Council that he was approached by a constituent requesting a four-way stop sign at the intersection of North Tyler and West Roberts streets.  Swiney offered that children often walk in that area and sidewalks are “limited or non-existent” and was concerned with pedestrian safety.  A citizen told the Council that other stop signs nearby were being run by drivers, so Phelps asked Swiney to devote an hour or so a day to patrol and ticketing in the area.
 
Maureen Carpenter addressed the Council on several topics, including an EDB grant resolution for a local industry.  Carpenter reported that she has tried to contact Kentucky Copper 15 times on their plans and to offer support, but with no response so far.  Russell Givens suggested the Council get with Carpenter on strategies for commercial business, and Carpenter added that grant money could be available for agribusiness.
 
Phelps reported that complaints had been made about vehicles driving on or alongside the soccer fields at the city park.  The city installed gates to block access, but Phelps said that resulted in complaints that emergency vehicles need access to the fields, so the gates were removed.  Phelps said fences are lowered only during games so vehicles could access the field as needed, and he said some citizens want to be kept updated on city activity on field access. The fields must be handicap accessible.

Chief Swiney gave the monthly activity report of the Morgantown Police Department.  There were 412 calls for service, 14 cases opened, 57 criminal arrests, 30 traffic citations, 87 total citations, 9 motor assists, 13 collisions worked, and 2 D.U.I.
 
Brad Johnson, Maintenance Supervisor, reported that they are looking to replace three tiles and add a fourth within the city at a projected cost of $4,500.  Phelps added that the city got calls this week about tiles in two locations.  The Council discussed whether the municipal road fund could be used for the tile work; Phelps was unsure and expressed his preference to use the fund for any blacktop work needed.  The consensus of the Council was to check on whether tile work could be paid for with municipal road funds and revisit the issue at the next meeting.

 
Phelps brought up issues at the cemetery, recommending razing the small building at the entrance because of its poor indoor condition, replacing the building with a sign, and selling plots in the area near the entrance which is not currently used.  The Council approved the suggestions.
 
In other business, the Council passed the 2nd reading of the 2015 property tax ordinance and approved the motor vehicle tax rate at the existing level of 27.9 cents per hundred.  The Council named Randall Gaskey to the Rochester Dam Regional Water Commission to replace Linda Keown who resigned.

Story by Don Thomason, Beech Tree News