MORGANTOWN — The Monongalia County Commission is taking steps to replace the 66-year-old Camp Muffly pool.
During Wednesday’s regular meeting, the commission agreed to put together a request for proposals.
The pool was originally built in 1953. Its replacement was among the projects earmarked for the use of excess levy funds. Of the approximately $1 million generated annually through a parks and trails levy passed by county voters in 2016, the three county parks — Camp Muffly, Chestnut Ridge and Mason-Dixon Historical Park — receive a total of $400,000.
“The pool as it exists right now, a handicapped individual can’t get into the pool. The new one will start at zero depth, meaning if you’re in a wheelchair, you’ll still be able to enjoy the pool,” Commissioner Ed Hawkins said. “None of the other amenities, the restrooms, the changing rooms, are ADA compliant. This is another issue.”
The pool’s design is being handled by Alpha Associates using a $25,000 grant from 2016-’17 from the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust. The commission unsuccessfully applied for a $600,000 grant from the Trust to replace the pool in 2017-’18.
In other county news, Patrick Tenney, of the county assessor’s office, said the office has had a busy summer, collecting 580 personal property forms, selling 486 dog tags and signing 17 people up for homestead exemptions during two dozen satellite sessions held all over the county between July 3 and Aug. 8.
“Those are all folks who didn’t have to come downtown, park and come into the courthouse,” he said.
With about a month remaining before the Oct. 1 deadline for personal property filings, Tenney said 5,400 people have taken advantage of online filing, already besting last year’s total by more than 1,800.
The assessor’s office has set up shop on the courthouse square through the end of this week, “Just to make it easier for people to turn in their forms before the deadlines hit,” Tenney said.
Lastly, Commission President Tom Bloom explained that the county recently received information from the West Virginia Auditor’s office indicating the county’s levy rate of 11.75 is the second lowest in the state, behind Marshall County, at 10.99.
All told, 35 of the state’s 55 counties are at the max levy rate of 14.30.
Once county excess levies are added, along with BOE rates — including BOE excess and bond levies — Monongalia County ranks 25th.
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