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Heated Exchanges During City Council Meeting

Pat Lawrence supports the MPD.

A large crowd saw a sometimes testy meeting of the Morgantown City Council on Thursday night.  The contention was on the possible elimination on the Morgantown Police Department, next fiscal year’s budget, and the level of community support for the Catfish Festival and the Chamber of Commerce.


 
Pat Lawrence told the Council that there are “lots of ways to save money without destroying the police department” and advised the Council to “go knock on the doors” and ask the opinion of city residents.

"You knocked on doors when you wanted their votes," said Lawrence. 

Lawrence got into sometimes combative exchanges with Council members Terrell House and Gary Southerland which Mayor Linda Keown had to gavel back to order.  When Southerland asked where Lawrence got her information since the Council has not discussed the issue, Lawrence said it’s “all over” the community and cited Bowling Green news media. Lawrence suggested if they eliminate the police department, why not eliminate the city council.

Next to speak was Chad Johnson. He asked what was more important, safety or saving money.  Johnson said state law requires that any officers transferred to another department cannot lose their hazardous duty pay.  He said the city should look at cutting other areas and asked why three vacant officer positions in the MPD have not been advertised to be filled. 

Chris Brill asked what the city is doing to replace the three vacant positions in the MPD; Keown replied that the city is reviewing options. Brill asked how the council received their packets for the meeting. According to Brill a City police officer is used to hand deliver packets to the each of the council members prior to each meeting. 

"I think that is unneccessary use of officers, they should be patrolling the city," said Brill.

Joey Franzell suggested to the Council that a forum or town hall meeting be held on the issue to combat misinformation.
 
Mayor Keown gave a budget message with the highlights of the FY 2012-13 city budget, including two new police cars, $20,000 for organizations with $10,000 earmarked for the entrepreneur program, $40,000 for sidewalk projects, dirt work and bleachers for the ballparks, a lift chair for the city pool, and a new tractor for the city park.  Kendall Embry added that the budget eliminates the school officer from the MPD.  Embry stated that the budget is $2.9 million but emphasized that $1.5 million of that figure is a grant passing through the city to Kentucky Copper.  Chris Brill asked why the city did not get a DARE grant for the school officer.  Currently the DARE program in Butler County is taught by the Kentucky State Police and is done in the sixth grade at Butler County Middle School.  Keown said she would look into the matter. 

Dionne Merritt asked the Council about the city burning brush near her residence and if the brush could be chipped instead. 

After all discussion, the Council passed the 2nd reading of the FY 2012-13 budget on a unanimous roll call vote.

Amanda Hatcher of the Morgantown – Butler County Chamber of Commerce addressed the Council on the Catfish Festival.  The subject turned toward her position with the Chamber when she stated that some people have not wanted to support the Catfish Festival since the proceeds go to pay Hatcher’s salary.  Hatcher stated, “I want to put a stop to the speculation” and told the Council that the Chamber will present its budget to the Council in September.  Hatcher continued that the budget for the Catfish Festival is limited, saying that some would like a “big concert” but that such an event would cost $20,000.

Dale Willis owner of Pizza Zone.
Dale Willis addressed the Council on the contract between him and the city regarding the city-owned building where Willis’ business Pizza Zone is located.  Willis said he would like a rewrite of the contract because it is designed more for a large factory than a small business like Pizza Zone.  He added that he has pursued SBA loans but that getting the loans are a long tedious process.  Council members Russell Givens and Terrell House said they would like to review the contract since they have not seen it.  Council members agreed on the idea of a work session to review the contract, and Keown said she would check her schedule and get back to Willis on setting a date.
 
Debra Hall of the Boys and Girls Club presented the organization’s plan for the next year and requested $7,000 in funding , the same level as the current year.  Hall said the Club has 163 children enrolled in the summer program, had 285 during the school year, and runs a daily average of 86 children.  She also said their United Way funding was reduced from $10,000 to $8,300.  The Council commended the detailed plan, but Keown cautioned that the city budget will devote $10,000 for all organizational giving.

The Council briefly discussed the rezoning of the city owned real estate formerly known as the Bratcher-Hawes property.  Mayor Keown reported that a change of zoning of the property to industrial has been recommended to the Planning and Zoning Board.

In their individual reports before the Council, the mayor and several Council members said they have been getting questions from the public about the possible MPD elimination.  Council member Russell Givens said he talked to the city of Hartford about their recycling program, and Mayor Keown said she visited Powderly and Greenville about their recycling program.  Givens said the city is in line to apply for a 25/75 grant next year.  Council member Terrell House reported the disc golf course construction has started at the city park and should be finished next week in time for the Catfish Festival.  He also said easements are being sought on Tyler Street near the city park area for sidewalks to the park.

Council member Gary Southerland reminded everyone that the Comprehensive Plan group meets next on June 26 and encouraged everyone to participate in the public hearing on the Plan on July 10.
 
In other business, the City Council passed the 2nd reading of the budget amendment to increase current street fund and industrial development budget levels, reappointed William Sutton to the Board of Adjustments, and passed a resolution giving Mayor Keown authority to enter into a $37,600 municipal road aid contract with the state Transportation Department.

City Council Highlights: June

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