Beech Tree News Network

The Morgantown City Council hired an interim city police chief at last night’s meeting.  The Council also approved reduced funding for the Boys and Girls Club and discussed the city’s contract with Pizza Zone.
 
After a closed session lasting over an hour, Mayor Linda Keown recommended hiring J. R. Wilkins as Interim Police Chief of the Morgantown Police Department for a term of up to six months.  Wilkins, a retired Bowling Green police officer, was approved on a unanimous roll call vote.  Keown said that Wilkins will meet the MPD on Monday.
 
Debra Hall of the Morgantown Boys and Girls Club addressed the Council about her organization’s request at the last meeting for $7,000 from the city, the same amount as last year.  Council member Gary Southerland stated that the city budget allocated $20,000 for all organizations and earmarked $10,000 for the entrepreneurial program, leaving $10,000 for all other organizations.  Hall said that whatever funds the Council gave, she would stretch them to last the year.  Council member Edra Dean Hampton moved to give $3,000 to the Boys and Girls Club; that motion died for lack of a second.  Council member Rick Scott moved to give $5,000, and Council member Terrell House seconded.  The Council approved the $5,000 on a 5-1 vote with Hampton voting no.
 
Dale Willis discussed what changes he wanted in his lease of the city’s building where his business Pizza Zone is located. Willis proposed the city take over insurance and major repairs in the contract.  A discussion followed of what constituted “major” repairs, and Council member House said businesses should be responsible for liability and contents insurance.  A consensus was reached to postpone contract revisions until Council members could visit the Pizza Zone building.
 
Penny Phelps-Wallace addressed the Council on the possible elimination of the MPD.  Before she spoke, Mayor Keown stated that the city does not have all the facts on the proposal and is asking people in the community.  Phelps-Wallace said the MPD is there when people need them and expressed concern about concentrating  police power into the Sheriff’s Department.  Council member Rick Scott said the city needs to maintain what has made the community what it is and “if it works, don’t screw it up.”  Southerland indicated he would not support a measure that would make the city less secure.  Hampton said the Council would let the public know as soon as it has all the facts, and Council member Russell Givens chimed in “That includes legal facts.”  Phelps-Wallace asked what time frame there was for a decision, and several Council members responded that there was no set time frame.

Mayor Keown thanked the Morgantown - Butler County Chamber of Commerce for their work on the Catfish Festival.  Keown and several Council members remarked that the unusual heat likely held down attendance; Givens added there's "nothing we can do about Mother Nature."  Keown said the problem with the fireworks was due to a freeze on the pyrotech's computer.  House reported that sidewalk projects would be starting up again soon and that the city has easements but needs to inform affected residents.  Givens said the city is ready to take another run at Ag Development funds; also, the city is looking at local equipment dealers for needed equipment with an eye toward using less than the $48,000 the city has allocated for equipment.
 
In other business, Mayor Keown recommended reappointing Hugh Carroll Evans to another 3-year term on the Utilities Board; the Council approved the recommendation.  The Council approved a proclamation to make Morgantown a Purple Heart City; the action means Morgantown officially supports recipients of Purple Hearts.  Mayor Keown said that tall grass was starting to be a nuisance in the city, making for a potential fire hazard, and that the city will be addressing the problem.

Story by Don Thomason, Beech Tree News