MORGANTOWN — Morgantown City Council approved a water line route through White Park in concept on Tuesday, though the specifics of the path will be dependent on the licensing agreement worked up by the city and BOPARC.
During the meeting, representatives of the Mon Valley Green Space Coalition asked that a combination of routes 3 and 8 be considered, explaining that doing so would preserve a more heavily used portion of the park that included a greater number of mature trees, which could either be removed during construction or sustain damaged roots due to heavy equipment.
MUB General Manager Tim Ball said the utility was open to that option and he had “relatively high confidence” that it could be accomplished, but added the caveat that he needed to clear it with MUB’s design team on Wednesday morning.
Routes 3 and 8 — as designated on maps available at mub.org/waterline — are very similar. This change would essentially move the 30-inch water line’s entry into the park more in line with Route 8 — further southeast up Mississippi Street — before jutting over to connect with Route 3. The route will then run about 600 feet across two private parcels before reentering the park.
Discussion of the various routes and their potential impacts to the park has been going on about four months, since MUB abandoned its original plan to run the water line along the existing trail through White Park after public outcry over potential impacts to the park and its mature trees.
Ultimately, however, the specifics of the route as well as MUB’s responsibilities in accessing the land, any remediation work or amenities expected and a plan for MUB’s maintenance of its work there going forward will be spelled out in the licensing agreement.
Ball explained work on that agreement will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday in council chambers.
The water line will bring raw water from the George B. Fleagel Dam and Reservoir, a secondary emergency water source currently under construction, to MUB’s water treatment facility. MUB has explained that due to the topography, in order for the line to be gravity fed and provide water at the needed capacity, the line must run through the park.
In other city news, Council:
- Approved a resolution proclaiming Sept. 20-27 The Week of West Virginia Climate Action. The resolution was brought forward by James Kotcon of the West Virginia Sierra Club.
- Set Halloween Trick-or-Treat times for 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 31.
