Beech Tree News Network

Morgantown City Council met in special session on Thursday, June 1. Council members Dustin Embry, Bryan Locke, Russell Givens and Amy Deweese were present at the start for a quorum.  Dionne Cannon Merrit and Sharon Johnson arrived later in the meeting.  The meeting was called in place of the regular-scheduled meeting that had been set to take place on June 8. Due to the meeting being called, Mayor Billy Phelps did not ask the specific boards to report. 

In Mayor Phelps' report, he noted that there has already been vandalism at the newly-renovated Charles Black City Park. The parties involved were identified with some facing criminal charges and others with no trespassing citations, which will keep the offenders out of the park for at least one year. To ensure that this sort of destruction will not continue, someone from the maintenance crew or the Morgantown City Police Department will be on site whenever the park is open.  

In other, more positive park-related news, Mayor Phelps shared that the grand opening was a huge success. Around 600 people took advantage of the free lunch provided by the city. He also reported much positive feedback from the community about the event and the improvements made at the park.  

The mayor noted a few additions that community members had suggested such as more benches around the playground. He indicated that there is money remaining in the budget for this small project and it would be placed on the July agenda for consideration.  

The mayor also shared that the park renovation is not complete just yet. He said that he would like to eventually see a new maintenance building constructed somewhere out of the park with the current building repurposed as a universal building for things like pageants and indoor basketball, or other events that need to be moved indoors due to inclement weather.  

In unfinished business, the council approved the budget ordinance for the 2023-24 fiscal year.  

In new business, the council voted to accept municipal road aid for the year.