Beech Tree News Network

The first Morgantown City Council meeting of 2019 brings all the boards together each year.  On Thursday, January 10, 2019 the crowd gathered at the Eva J. Hawes Building.  Mayor Billy Phelps gave his State of the City address, which you can read at the following link: https://beechtreenews.com/articles/mayor-billy-phelps-state-city-address

Mayor Phelps stated, “You’ll hear a lot this year about how Morgantown plans to be “more,” by providing more parks, more transportation, more fun, more shops, more history, and so on. A city is made up of all these elements, and we will strive to provide every service and opportunity we can for our citizens. We hope to inspire our business leaders, community members and residents to be “more” as well. Help us push Morgantown into our future, it is only together that we can make this goal a reality.  Help us make Morgantown more like home.”

David Gilbert , of Gilbert and Gilbert, CPAs gave the audit report.
“Saying that the City has an unqualified opinion “the best audit,” no findings “another A+” and that “the City is financially, the strongest it has ever been in its history.”

“Our Mayor, City Council, & City Administration were willing to make very difficult calls and stick to them during what could have been our biggest financial crisis ever, but thanks to their foresight and unrelenting determination, these leaders have put us in our strongest financial position. The future looks bright & full of potential,” said Kendall Embry, of Embry & Watts CPA’s.

The following reports were given:

The Housing Authority
The Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of Morgantown met in special session, will all the members present, on Monday, December 17, 2018 for the purpose to review and approve the Annual Plan.  The members include:  Anita Jenkins, Executive Director; James Dossey, Chairman; Iris Moore, Vice-Chairman; Pam Staples, Commissioner; and Billy Warren, Commissioner.

Included in the agenda, members received an update from City Police Officer Paul Evans concerning police services for its properties. 

The Fiscal Audit copies for 03-31-2018 was presented; there were no findings.  Also, information for the bid opening of proposed capital improvement items was held on December 20, 2018.  As of this date, a final award has not been decided.

The Annual Plan for 2019 was approved, that includes policy updates and future capital improvement needs.

Morgantown Fire Department
Structural Fires:
City – 0
County – 1

Calls for Assistants:
City – 1
County – 5

Vehicle Accidents:
City – 1
County – 10

Medical Assistants:
City – 0
County – 2

Calls Cancelled Enroute:
City – 0
County – 3

Brush Fires:
City – 0
County – 2

Total Calls – 25

Total Runs for 2018 – 212

Maintenance
In 2018 the street department had three full-time employees Brad Johnson, Harold Deweese, and Tyler Gann.

1a.  We had a 5-person jail crew that worked 2,640 each for a total of 13,200 hours for the year.
1b.  We also had 5 kids that worked through the summer program.  They worked 40 hours a week from June – 1st of August.
2.  We picked up 288 loads of brush and 38 loads of leaves for the year.
3.  We patched 47 pot holes.
4.  We put in 8 tiles and 5 drain boxes.
5.  We mowed and maintained 50 acres at the Charles T. Black Park and 11 acres of cemetery and 35,716 ft. of sidewalks/rights-of-way every two weeks from March – October.
6.  All employees (full time, part time, and jail crew) played a big part in last year’s GRCFF from setting up to tearing down and cleaning up from the 4th – 7th.  We worked 229 hours.

City of Morgantown Police
Dispatched calls for service – 3,455
Accidents – 151
Arrests – 155
Traffic Enforcement Actions – 575
Issued Traffic Citations – 290 + (285 courtesy) = 575
Opened Criminal Cases – 264
Special Details – 67
Total Calls for Service – 10,707
Completed all required in-service training for 2018.
Completed and passed KLEF audit.
2019 Calea/KACP accreditation compliant policy ready for implementation.
20 percent of 2018 we were down to the chief and one officer (78 days straight) with no lapse in services to the community.
Graduated Officer Burden in September, who then completed accreditation approved field training.
Hired R.T. Cox and Charles Dauley (Dauley under 6 month agreement to complete his retirement and field train new officers).  Dauley officially retired in good standing December 2018.
Department still operating with yearly increasing call volume on three officers less than when I took over.  So were like the rest of the country trying to find qualified applicants that want the job. 
All in all 2018 was a very challenging year but we handled the call increases and remained proactive which shows the quality of the officers we currently have.

Planning & Zoning 2018 Report
1.    P/Z Commission Completed all required CEU’s
2.    P/Z Reviewed and approved 13 Zoning and Sign (4) Permits (9)
3.    P/Z had 6 Zoning Inquiries that required action or official clarification.
4.    P/Z Conducted Zoning 3 Hearings.
5.    P/Z Reviewed and updated new Sub-Division Regulations
6.    P/Z Completed Zoning Map Amendments (Approval Pending)
7.    P/Z started Up-date to Comprehensive Plan (In progress)
Planning & Zoning
1.    Complete Comprehensive Plan and submit for approval (April)
2.    Submit Zoning Map updates for Approval (April)
3.    Continue to review and up-date Zoning Ordinance
4.    Complete assigned duties
5.    Meet CEU Requirements
6.    P/Z 2019 Officers
Danny Cardwell:    Chairman
Bryan Locke:        Vice Chairman
Patty Craig        Secretary
Jody Forgy        Commissioner
Hobart Flener Jr.    Commissioner
Glendal Deweese    Zoning Administrator

The council did approve the 2018-19 Budget Amendment Second Reading.