It’s rarely ever a simple matter finishing a major engineering project.
But when someone keeps moving the target to complete such a project it can become an impossible task marred by frustration from all parties.
Unfortunately, such a moving target appears to have happened to the Morgantown Utility Board’s project to move raw water from a new emergency reservoir to its water treatment plant.
More specifically, about 3,600 feet of that miles-long pipeline through Morgantown’s White Park. About 80% of that pipeline was finished when work was halted in April after public outcry over impacts to the park.
Following months of public discourse and closed-door meetings between MUB, the city and BOPARC, a route through the park was approved Sept. 3.
However, that approval was contingent upon a licensing agreement, which must consider the specifics of the route as well as MUB’s responsibilities in accessing the land, remediation work, amenities and a plan for maintenance.
In early September, the parties began putting those provisions in writing. Call them the details, which is often where all bets come off on delivering the finished project on time and meeting the original requirements.
We realize aside from the route for this pipeline, there was never an agreement on the details.
However, this project needs to move forward in the spirit of an agreement, rather than the letter of one.
One of the chief tools project managers use to do that is to baseline the schedule and scope of a project.
By setting those essentials in stone the parties can see the project from start to finish. That baseline is also the first point of reference if the target begins moving around.
Our first point of reference to moving this licensing agreement forward is that the city drop its condition to order the pipeline be removed at any time, for any reason.
It appears the city has dropped language that be done at MUB’s expense and has agreed it would be at the city’s. Yet, at any time for any reason needs to be dropped, too.
To the city and BOPARC’s credit, they have dropped the provision that MUB pay $1 million for the trees to be removed to accommodate the pipeline’s path.
On the final sticking point, we also encourage the city to drop its request for MUB to build recreational facilities at the new reservoir at its expense.
No one would protest if MUB built a trail around the new reservoir. However, that should be MUB’s discretion.
This need not be a fight to the finish. After all, this project will benefit all of us in an emergency.
But give MUB the tools and direction and it will finish the job to everyone’s satisfaction.
