MORGANTOWN — A 16-project paving list with an estimated cost of $1.5 million was outlined Tuesday during Morgantown City Council’s regular meeting.
The paving list, which aims to resurface 5.2 miles of city streets, was presented as part of a five-year plan identifying projected paving lists through 2022.
The 2018 list includes:
- Arch Street — Overdale to Kingwood.
- Campus Drive — Beechurst to University.
- Chestnut Street — Pleasant to Foundry.
- Dug Hill Road — City limits to Listravia.
- East Parkway — Hite to Mississippi.
- Forest Avenue — End to Dallas.
- Grand Street — Cobun to Wilson; Ross to Grandview.
- Killarney Drive — Van Voorhis to Collins Ferry.
- Laurel Street — Patteson to University.
- Richwood Avenue — Charles to Willey.
- Ross Street — Dorsey to Grand.
- University Avenue — Grand Central Station to Patteson; Campus to Overhill.
- West Virginia Avenue — Dead end to Leonard
- Willowdale Road — McCullough to Stewart
Unlike last paving season, during which the city let two paving contracts totaling just over $2 million in order to resurface nearly 12 miles, City Engineer Damien Davis said he anticipates one contractor should be able to handle the identified projects.
Funding for the city’s paving work will come from the anticipated $4.5 million in weekly user fees collected from anyone working inside the city.
Last May, the city brought in Washington D.C.-based contractor Dynatest to test and grade the city’s streets. That information — known as a pavement condition index — makes up much of the foundation of the paving lists going forward.
Davis explained that paving is separate from the city’s street maintenance efforts through its public works department.
In other city news, council officially set the city’s levy rates for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The rates remain unchanged at the maximum allowable by state code.
The rates will stay at 25 cents for every $100 of taxable residential property and 50 cents for every $100 of commercial property.
City Manager Paul Brake said property taxes in Morgantown fall far below those of other university cities.
He explained that taxes on a $250,000 home in Morgantown will cost the owner $375 yearly. He said the same home in State College, Pa., or Charlottesville, Va. would generate property taxes north of $2,000 annually.
City Attorney Ryan Simonton said it would take legislative consideration for the city to exceed its current rates.
Council also:
- Approved $314,300 to repair the facade to city hall. According to information in the meeting packet, the renovation and repair include the building facade and the parapet facing Spruce Street. It was explained that water infiltration loosened large blocks over the Spruce Street sidewalk. The parapet will be disassembled to the third-floor window. It is anticipated that the project will be completed by August.
- Approved the purchase of a bucket truck in the amount of $161,960 for the city’s public works department. The city is utilizing the National Joint Powers Alliance to purchase the 2019 International Altec Model Aerial Device.
- Approved $24,921.63 to contract Shield Roof and Construction for repairs to the Morgantown Fire Department’s Norwood Station.
- Gave Brake the green light to obtain materials for the construction of the second and third T-hangars at the Morgantown Municipal Airport.
