Divided Council Debates KY Copper Building

Fri, 04/10/2015 - 8:48am — Diane Dyer

Thursday night’s meeting of the Morgantown City Council was dominated by debate on what to do with the former Kentucky Copper building and by discussion on Morgantown Utilities’ sewer costs. Council member Dionne Merritt was absent from the meeting.

Economic developer Maureen Carpenter addressed the Council on the failure of Kentucky Copper to make its payments and the effort to sell the building, which is owned by the city. Carpenter gave her assessment of the building’s current market value based on an examination of similar buildings in the TVA region. Council member Russell Givens objected to the figure, saying “everybody knows” it’s worth more; Carpenter replied that if the Council set a price around $5 million to $6 million, it will sit vacant for four years. City Clerk Jarrod Barks stated that the city is paying $37,400 monthly on the building, and Mayor Billy Phelps said the city cannot afford to sit on the building; Russell Givens replied that the city cannot afford to give the building away. After a lengthy debate, Russell Givens moved to set the sale price at $4.2 million; the Council denied the motion 3-2 with Russell Givens and Sharon Johnson voting yes and Gary Southerland, Ronald Givens, and Allen Meredith voting no. Meredith moved to set the sale price at $3.5 million; the Council approved that price 3-2 with Meredith, Southerland, and Ronald Givens voting yes and Johnson and Russell Givens voting no.

Morgantown Utilities Superintendent Randall Gaskey and board member Dale Adcock answered questions from the Council, on a deficit in the water division. Russell Givens led the questioning, contending that the gas division’s ability to cover water’s deficit may not continue due to changes he saw in federal energy policy. Gaskey stated that the 80 year old sewer system costs a lot to maintain, that water makes money but the sewer system makes it look like it doesn’t since both water and sewer are accounted together. Water lines are locked inside the city limits, but sewer lines run into county territory. Gaskey also said that no one would buy the sewer system. Southerland asked if Morgantown Utilities had the capacity to sell more water; Gaskey said yes, although water would be sold at a wholesale rate.

The Council addressed the renewal of the economic developer contract. Mayor Phelps recommended renewing Maureen Carpenter’s contract, which she reported was $22,511 annually to the city, but he recommended a 1-2 year contract instead of the normal 3-year contract. Southerland moved to renew for one year, and the Council approved 5-0.

Phelps reported that budget concerns caused him to put the sidewalk project on hold, and the Council agreed with his action. The Council voted to amend the current budget to add $107,000 to get through the current fiscal year; Barks said that according to Kendall Embry, the $107,000 came from extra funds including a reduction of planned carryover and did not come from any department’s budget.

Mayor Phelps reported that since last month’s action on ordinances for the various Boards, he discovered that all members of the Boards had to be reappointed. Phelps recommended all current members be reappointed for the duration of their present terms; the Council approved Phelps’s recommendation.

Brad Johnson of the Street Department reported that work on the tennis courts will not start before the first of May. His department has received a lot of calls on drainage tiles due to recent rains, and Johnson said that the tile near the former Save-a-Lot location has been cleared and a screen put over the opening.

Josh Hampton of the Butler County Arts Guild addressed the Council on Guild activities in the coming year. A mural is planned for the former Morgantown Mission building. The BCAG is partnering again with Roger Givens for two county history tours on May 30 and October 10. Hampton said Music at the Mural will start again on May 22 and reminded the public that the Butler County Movie Club meets every second and fourth Tuesday. The BCAG is looking to hold another event similar to last year’s Greg Martin Group concert, and Hampton said they are also looking into funding for a replacement for the Singing on the Square series.

MPD Chief Charles Swiney reported 422 calls for service in March and six cases presented to the Butler County Grand Jury. Swiney said that Officer Embry is now a firing range officer, the first time the MPD has had one in two years.

In other business, the Council approved the first reading of a Housing Authority Board ordinance.