Star City has paved more streets since July than in the previous 17 years combined, according to Mayor Herman Reid.
At Tuesday’s regular city council meeting, Reid said he and the council wanted to correct some misinformation regarding what’s happening in the town.
In the previous 17 years, only eight blocks were paved due to a lack of money. Since July, 10 blocks on the north side of town and one on the south side have been paved.
The paving was possible due to income from Aldi, Tuscan Sun Spa and Salon and the Morgantown Utility Board, Reid said.
A second round of paving is planned for several streets on the south side including Wildwood Street, Canfield Street, North Main Street, Saratoga Avenue and Center Hill Avenue. Reid hopes to have those projects completed before the paving season ends but it will depend on the weather.
Reid said the north side of town is much more heavily traveled thanks to University Avenue, a state road, being a major thoroughfare through the city. He also said 80% of the city’s utility revenue comes from that area and it makes sense to spend more money in the areas that create more revenue.
The Riverfront Park improvements are on-going and Reid said none of the money used towards that project — including accessibility upgrades, boat ramp improvements and fixing drainage issues — is being funded through the regular city budget. That project is funded through hotel tax revenue, grants and the city’s relationship with Morgantown North Rotary, Reid said.
The ongoing fight over the route of a pipeline from MUB’s new reservoir to its pumping station affects more than just Morgantown residents, Councilman Steve Blimco said. Blimco said he was concerned about a possible rate increase from MUB as a result of the two entities inability to come to an agreement.
Blimco also filled his fellow councilors in on what happened at the most recent Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting. The organization’s current plan will provide several crosswalks and a bike lane on University Avenue in Star City.
Council also unanimously approved a roughly $92,000 bid for a leeway extension and boat ramp project at the Riverfront Park.
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