MORGANTOWN — Shortly after the Morgantown Utility Board got clearance to begin construction on the new Flegal Dam and Reservoir, representatives within the city noted the site’s recreational potential.
In January of 2019, former MUB General Manager Tim Ball said recreation options have been on the table for years, adding those amenities would be the responsibility of the city and BOPARC.
Just over a year ago, current MUB General Manager Mike McNulty said he was working with city officials to that end.
On Tuesday, Morgantown Mayor Jenny Selin and Assistant City Manager Emily Muzzarelli told MUB’s Board of Directors they’re ready to get that ball bouncing in earnest.
Selin said the city is prepared to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay for the design work of that project, which could include a bridge and considerations for hiking, biking, non-motorized boating, picnic areas, restrooms and parking.
She said the design component has not moved forward “In part because we would feel better with some kind of memorandum of understanding that we’re all in agreement there be recreation there before we spend probably $200,000 in ARPA funds for planning.”
Muzzarelli explained further.
“We want to see this done expeditiously and properly and we want to be able to have it at no cost to MUB and no cost to the rate payers. We have this one-time money for doing this great project,” she said, adding “We think there’s an opportunity to create an asset to the community.”
As the issue didn’t appear on Tuesday’s meeting agenda, the board didn’t discuss the matter.
The 50-acre, 370-million gallon reservoir and earthen dam is under construction on a 125-acre site along Cobun Creek Road, between Grafton Road and Kingwood Pike.
The dam, reservoir and attached raw-water pipeline represent a $50 million construction project.
In other news, the board approved a $420,000 contract with E.L. Robinson Engineering for planning, design, bid administration and construction monitoring for the upper Popenoe sanitary and stream restoration project.
That project will restore some 3,000 feet of the Popenoe Run stream and re-place 3,000 feet of 60-year-old clay sewer lines. That project, which has received $1 million ARPA commitments from both Morgantown and Monongalia County, will bolster a portion of the system overwhelmed by heavy rains last summer.
McNulty said once E.L. Robinson provides an estimate of the overall project cost, MUB will know if it needs to supplement the ARPA funds with a loan or internal dollars.
Lastly, the board approved a $249,000 contract with Omni Architects to provide architectural services for renovations of MUB’s Green Bag Road office building.
