MORGANTOWN — Morgantown Utility Board General Manager Mike McNulty said he’s exhausted all known avenues in an attempt to get MUB employees vaccinated against COVID-19.
The issue was raised during Tuesday’s meeting of the MUB board of directors after McNulty explained the utility planned to keep its business office closed until employees were vaccinated.
McNulty said MUB fell under Phase 1B (community infrastructure) of the state’s original phased vaccine distribution plan, but “That apparently is not going to happen now.”
The state has since switched to a largely age-based rollout.
“So the employees at the water treatment plant and the discharge plant are not considered essential?” Vice Chair Barbara Parsons asked.
“Apparently not. We don’t know why. We thought those employees, in particular, would be high on the priority list,” McNulty said. “We’ve worked with the health department. We’ve tried about three different avenues to get our employees vaccinated, but they all fell on deaf ears.”
MUB employees have been advised to register through the state’s online portal at vaccinate.wv.gov.
Also on Tuesday, McNulty said recent conversations have indicated MUB employees are eligible for coverage under the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency as the utility looks to move away from current provider, The Health Plan.
He said the cost and effectiveness of insurance was one of the topics most often raised by MUB employees he’s met with since taking over as general manager.
“As this process evolves, we feel like we’re going to need a broker to help us navigate these waters,” he said. “We’re going to be advertising for a broker in the next few weeks.”
Lastly, Greer Limestone was again selected to fill MUB’s annual stone contract. The company is MUB’s current provider and offered the low bid of $224,180 based on estimated tonnage reflective of MUB’s annual usage.
