Beech Tree News Network

The Morgantown City Council heard a proposal for city beautification and dealt with many routine issues at last night’s monthly meeting.  Josh Hampton and Landon Hampton from the Hampton Company addressed the Council to propose improving the city’s image by redesigning the city website and facilitating the painting of murals around the city.  The combined effort was described by both Josh and Landon as “re-branding the city.”  The resources of both the Hampton Company and Yellowberri could be made available to execute both a mural project and a website redesign to attract business.  Josh Hampton called the city website “your virtual brick-and-mortar” and he and Council member Terrell House agreed that painting a mural on an empty building could help beautify the city.  When asked by Mayor Linda Keown where to start, Josh Hampton replied a “significant amount of work” would be needed to do a website redesign right, and it would take time before results are seen.  Josh Hampton said he wanted to get a sense of the city’s interest in such projects by addressing the Council.  Casey Turci stated that he had offered to redesign the city’s website for free a month ago and was told the city was not interested; Turci asked the Mayor and Council what has changed.  After general statements from Council members, Keown suggested a work session to discuss a website redesign.
 
The Council discussed the proposed change in the city’s lease contract with Pizza Zone.  Owner Dale Willis was not at the meeting.  Council members Rick Scott and Terrell House and Mayor Linda Keown all expressed reservations about changing the existing contract with Willis, all making the point that Willis signed the contract, and House said that Willis wanting to change the existing contract is “not good business.”  House asked if the city changed the lease, what would happen if a factory wanted to make changes in their contract with the city.  Since Willis was absent from the meeting, the Council agreed to postpone any decision on revising the contract.
 
Interim Police Chief J. R. Wilkins addressed the Council on his first three weeks on the job.  Wilkins said the MPD has new uniforms and two new police cruisers.  Regarding open positions at the MPD, Wilkins said two officer candidates are currently being reviewed for the openings, each having taken the required POPS test this week.  Wilkins said he has met with several people in the community and he has reviewed the policy manual.  He announced that a morgantownpolice.org e-mail address has been started to improve communication with the community, and the MPD is exploring a Stuff the Cruiser event in conjunction with Cash Express.
 
The Planning and Zoning Board has a vacancy due to Bill South moving to Ohio.  Mayor Keown recommended Bryan Locke to the Planning and Zoning Board; the Council approved the appointment.  The Council addressed a recommendation to connect two areas of the Industrial Park by forming a committee to plan for the work.  Council members Russell Givens, Gary Southerland, Terrell House, and Rick Scott volunteered to be on the committee.
 
Council member Russell Givens reported that fill dirt from the river was brought to the Pee Wee ball field at the city park; the field was redone, and both Givens and House praised the bulldozer work by Bob Chism.  Givens also said funds were being pursued to build a concrete cleaning pad outside the Eva J. Hawes Ag Expo and Community Center to clean livestock for agricultural events held at the facility.  Mayor Keown stated that bids were being received on the South Tyler Street sidewalk project.  Keown said the sidewalk is currently “an eyesore” and an insurance liability issue, making it a priority project.  Keown and the Council also discussed replacement of street signs, particularly missing signs such as those on Bell Street.
 
In other business, the Council approved the 1st reading of an amendment to the FY 2011-12 budget, increasing both the Street Fund and Maintenance Fund.  The Council approved the 1st reading of an amendment to the FY 2012-13 budget to include ADF Grant funding of $3,706 to be used to purchase a lift chair for the city pool.  The Council approved a resolution for the lease agreement on the new MPD police cruisers subject to review by attorney John King.

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Don Thomason for Beech Tree News