MORGANTOWN — The two candidates for a seat on the Monongalia County Commission met recently with The Dominion Post Editorial Board to discuss the issues associated with the race. The meetings were virtual and because of scheduling issues the candidates met at different times.
Here are some of the highlights.
Republican incumbent Ed Hawkins was raised on a dairy farm in Easton, where he said he learned from his parents his values of volunteerism and service. He graduated from University High and earned his degree in dentistry from the WVU dental school.
Hawkins said his job on the county commission is just the third of his life: He worked construction right up until he entered dental practice, from which he retired after 40 years.
He’ been volunteering for 30 years, he said, and serve on a variety of boards, including Camp Muffly and the Monongalia County Fair, which he chairs.
Democrat challenger Jeff Arnett is also a lifelong Mon County resident. A Morgantown High graduate, he earned his bachelor’s and law degrees at WVU and works in real estate and estate law. He noted that estate work and assessment appeals are part of the commission’s duties. “I think I can be in a unique position to offer that insight and background in deciding those estate issues.”
Arnett said one of the things that prompted him to run is subdivision regulations the county Planning Commission will put before the county commission. The regulations specify such things as setbacks and number of lots per acre.
“I think the way the current regulation is written is too restrictive and will have drastic effects on development in this county.”
New Longview Power plant and PILOT
In April, the state Public Service Commission approved construction of two new Longview Power plants: one gas fired, one solar.
Arnett said the expansion beyond the existing coal-fired plant plant could be an advantage to Mon County in terms of jobs and revenue. “I am all in favor of cleaner burning fossil fuels for power production and less impact on our environment.”
The details of this PILOT agreement haven’t been made public yet, but Arnett said that in general, PILOT agreements – where a series of flat payments are made over the course of several years (30 in this case) in lieu of property taxes – and TIF districts have advantages and disadvantages.
It’s important to weigh any loss of tax revenue against the benefits of jobs and development expected to ensue, he said.
Hawkins said that because the PILOT agreement remains confidential at this point, he couldn’t discuss it, though the PSC-approved term sheet is public.
(As previously reported, the term sheet indicates proposed PILOT would provide the county with about $58.2 million across 30 years. Annual county revenue from the proposed PILOT is projected at $2.5 million up front, then gradually escalating from $1.58 million per year for the first five years up to $2.47 million in year 30.)
Hawkins said the land for the proposed plants currently land brings in $6,000 per year. The commission is now working with the county Board of Education to form a joint board for various service projects connected with the PILOT and has set aside $250,000 for those projects.
Hawkins said the commission is looking forward to an announcement soon about the PILOT. “The agreements that we’ve been working on, I think, most people are going to find have been very beneficial.”
Clean drinking and recreational waters
Regarding drinking water, Hawkins said Mon County doesn’t face the problem of other counties. But the commission does aid local water boards with funds when they need help. He recalled three instances of that during his tenure.
On recreation, he said he always campaigns on trying to provide best quality recreation that the commission can. An example is the Lake Lynn Power Company, whose license expires in six years. They’re already in talks with the company to include additional recreational facilities with the signing of a new accord. They’ve had two meetings so far and he’s attended both.
On drinking water, Arnett said the state Department of Environmental Protection has the final say on regulations, but the county should be proactive in working with WVDEP. The 2014 Freedom Energy spill in Charleston offers some lessons in proper monitoring.
Regarding recreation, he said businesses that set up along Cheat Lake or the Mon River should be monitored to make sure they’re keeping the water clean.
Partnering with WVU
Arnett said WVU “can be the elephant in the room” but it’s essential to the community.
Partnering with WVU, he said, enables pursuit of projects the local government couldn’t afford to do without it. So a strong partnership is vital but the county needs to assert its own control and independence.
Hawkins said he entered office the same time as Gordon Gee returned to WVU for his second term as president. “There is a reputation in this town that whatever WVU wants, WVU gets. We wanted to dispel that.”
He met with Gee and told him the county and the university would work together. They stay in contact to work as partners “to show that we’re both in this community together.”
An example is the Monongalia County Extension Service and 4-H Center, located in Mylan Park and completed in 2019, he said.
Tweet David Beard@dbeardtdp Email dbeard@dominionpost.com
