Beech Tree News Network

The final Morgantown City Council meeting of the year addressed state roadways in city limits, city insurance, the proposed city mural and website projects, and the swearing in of new Council members.

Deneatra Henderson of the state Transportation Cabinet discussed a proposal for the city to take over certain state roadways within city limits.  Henderson said these lower priority state roadways would not receive as much maintenance funding and suggested the city could better maintain them.  Most of the discussion between Henderson and the Council concerned whether the state would address drainage issues before turning over the highways and whether the streets around Morgantown Elementary and Butler County Middle School should be changed to two-way with the state paying for the conversion before a city takeover.  Council member Russell Givens was vocal about the drainage issues in two areas; he also wanted input from the Board of Education before making decisions on changing any one-way streets.  Council member Terrell House suggested tabling the issue to gather more information, and Henderson said she did not expect this issue to be resolved on the first meeting.  The Council tabled the proposal.

Gina Tynes of Hocker Insurance presented her company’s proposed city insurance policy for the coming year.  The premium totaled $43,205, which included the city building leased by Pizza Zone for the first time and also adjusted coverage for the city’s automobile fleet.  Hocker Insurance was the best bid among those the city received.  The Council approved Hocker’s proposed city insurance policy.

Landon and Josh Hampton of the Hampton Company addressed the Council on the mural project and the city website proposal.  Landon Hampton said he and Josh met with Morgantown Bank and Trust officials regarding the site for the mural; the two suggested sites are the building housing Chad’s Auto Parts and the Ohio Street wall of Morgantown Bank and Trust’s main office.  Mural artist Andie Rudloff of SKyPAC told the Council that she wants to work with area artists to develop a preliminary design.  Rudloff also said a mural is typically finished in a matter of hours, can be painted anytime the temperature is “consistently above 40 degrees,” and that the paint will be chosen for the surface to make it last 15-20 years.  The Council consensus was that the auto parts store building was the more visible location for a mural.

Regarding the city website proposal, Council member Rick Scott said the city was not ready to commit to what the Hampton Company proposed.  Givens asked if the proposal was the “Cadillac Plan,” to which Josh Hampton replied it was a mid-range website proposal.  Hampton continued that the city needs the website, adding “If not with us, … it needs to be done.”  Givens chimed in that industry won’t consider a community without such a website.  House said a committee needs to be formed to look into the website proposal, and Josh Hampton added that his company was open to discussions.

Mayor Linda Keown reported that Josh Givens had suggested reducing the speed limit on Thomas Street to 15 m.p.h.  Discussion centered on the student foot traffic on the street and on how likely motorists would be to stay at 15 m.p.h.  Keown suggested the Council members drive Thomas Street to Sunset Loop and assess the proposed reduction in speed limit.

Council member Rick Scott presented the Disc Golf Committee proposal on signage and sponsorship at the disc golf course.  Scott showed examples of the signs that would be used.  The Committee suggested allowing businesses to sponsor a sign for each hole on the course at $100 per hole per year, with a limit of two consecutive years on a hole unless sponsorship is uncontested.  Joey Givens would provide sign graphics, Cody Henderson would survey the holes at a maximum charge of $500, and the city road maintenance department would provide signs and poles.  The Council added a three-line limit to sponsor signs and approved the Committee proposal.

New City Council members Dionne Merritt and Allen Meredith were sworn in at the beginning of the meeting; their terms begin with the January meeting.  Outgoing members Edra Dean Hampton and Rick Scott were recognized for their service.  The Council chose Gary Southerland as 2013 Mayor Pro Tem and Russell Givens at 2013 floodplain manager.  The Council approved Dale Adcock to the Morgantown Utilities Board and Danny Cardwell to the Planning and Zoning Board; both Adcock and Cardwell had served partial terms and were approved for full terms.

The Council considered a recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Board that property owned by T. J. Deel on Chickasaw Drive be changed from a split zone to full residential zone.  Deel told the Council that he favored the change in zoning; Keown added that several properties on Chickasaw Drive had split zoning between industrial and residential.  The Council approved the recommendation.

In other business the Council approved the second reading of the ordinances closing two alleyways near the Morgantown Mission and a third alleyway near the property of Richard and Karen Deye.  The Council discussed the contract with Tim Dorris to provide fireworks at the Catfish Festival; the city has been promised that new computer equipment obtained by Dorris would prevent the problems of last 4th of July’s show.  The city is in the second year of the two year contract and the Council decided to keep Dorris for the 2013 fireworks show.