MORGANTOWN — Morgantown Utility Board General Manager Mike McNulty gave a shout-out to the Monongalia County Health Department Tuesday.
This time last month, McNulty expressed his concern that MUB’s employees — considered critical community infrastructure under the state’s initial tiered vaccine plan — had yet to hear anything about when they might be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Since that meeting, I’m very pleased to let you know that Mon County Health Department contacted us. We have been able to get 16 of our employees vaccinated through the program,” McNulty said, explaining that employees with underlying conditions were the first to receive shots.
He said those employees are scheduled to receive their second shot within the next couple weeks while an additional five employees, selected based on age, will receive their initial dose.
“So we’re really seeing some improvement there, and we’re really appreciative of the Mon County Health Department.”
McNulty said MUB will reconsider opening its business office to the public as more employees are vaccinated and virus numbers continue to decline.
Also Tuesday, the MUB Board of Directors approved a $314,022 bid with Atlantic Machinery to provide a new TV inspection truck, which allows for the inspection of MUB’s various underground lines.
McNulty said the current truck/camera combo is roughly 19 years old, is overly bulky and is no longer supported by the manufacturer.
The new inspection truck, built on a 2021 Ford F550 model, will be financed through BB&T using a three-year loan with an interest rate not to exceed 1.72%. MUB will pay 20% down, which is just under $63,000.
Lastly, McNulty said he’s been asked to speak during an upcoming Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works meeting by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
The remote meeting will be held at 10 a.m. March 17.
“I thought that would be a good opportunity,” he said. “The biggest challenge we face is money, right? We’d like to see some money come out of Washington, D.C., especially when there’s a mandate to do something. It would be nice to see the dollars flow with the mandates.”
