WESTOVER — Westover City Council on Monday approved a summer paving list that will resurface 5,520 feet, or just over a mile, of city streets.
The largest projects on the list include 870 feet of Race Street; the entirety (750 feet) of Bounds Circle; 730 feet of Ohio Avenue; 675 feet of North Street and 610 feet of Colorado Avenue.
Also included on the list are all or portions of Wilson, Ferry and West High streets; Washington and Polling avenues; Martin and Ross lanes and 145 feet designated as “BC Parking Area.”
Westover has a $200,000 paving budget this summer. During the July 17 meeting, Public Works Director Jason Stinespring said he conservatively estimated this work at about $186,000, but noted actual costs won’t be known until project bids are received and additional projects could potentially be included.
In other news from Monday’s meeting, council adopted on second reading the city’s Home Rule plan and application, which will now be submitted to the West Virginia Municipal Home Rule Board for consideration during its October meeting.
The plan includes a 1% municipal sales tax, and five code enforcement matters primarily aimed at assisting the city in addressing abandoned, dilapidated and blighted properties in a timelier fashion and without court orders.
As previously reported, Home Rule began as a four-city pilot program in 2007 with the goal of giving the state’s municipalities freedom within the law to tackle unique challenges. It was made a permanent program in 2019 and opened to all the state’s cities.
According to the West Virginia Department of Revenue, there are currently 57 cities using Home Rule, including Morgantown.
Lastly, council voted to move $500,000 out of a money market account and into two separate $250,000 certificates of deposit, or CDs.
Finance Director Karen Mason explained the city is getting a 1.75% interest rate on the current account, but the seven-month CDs offer a rate of 4.26%.
