MORGANTOWN — I’ve you’ve ever been curious what the day-to-day activities of a city clerk look like.
Or what goes into pulling together a $40 million municipal budget.
Or when, where and how city road signs are made.
The city of Morgantown has an opportunity for you in Class 3 of its Morgantown Citizens Academy.
Applications are now being accepted for the upcoming session, set to begin April 10, 2025.
The free, ten-week course is open to all members of the community and is designed to provide a behind-the-scenes look at city departments. The course also shows residents how to engage with local government.
To qualify, applicants must be 18 or older and a resident of Monongalia County. Morgantown residents will receive priority during the selection process.
The sessions will take place from 6:30- 8:30 p.m on Thursday evenings at various locations and will feature interactive activities and discussions led by city staff.
Each week, participants will explore different topics and gain insight into the workings of municipal government. Course topics include how an ordinance becomes law, creating strong neighborhoods through planning, street paving and maintenance, parks and recreation, arts and culture, public safety, communications and the budgeting process.
Morgantown Special Projects Coordinator Nikki Lauffer said the academy equips citizens with the tools to better understand and engage with local government.
“Our citizens often want to get involved and understand what their local government is doing. However, it can be difficult to know where to start. Citizens Academy was created to facilitate communication, support, and knowledge between our city and its residents,” Lauffer said.
The MCA program began in 2022. It took a year off in 2023 and returned last year with a goal to do less talking and a lot more doing.
Graduates of the academy are recognized each year during a meeting of Morgantown City Council.
“There’s a lot of moving parts to what all Morgantown has to offer and I think sometimes people forget about that, and really, really forget the fact that we’re all just humans,” 2024 participant Ryan Ratcliff said of the course. “It brought a little bit of that humanity to the cause. Thank you for opening up the doors and being transparent about how the government works.”
Brand new Morgantown residents are welcome, as are lifelong citizens of the University City.
“Don’t ever stop this program. I had the opportunity to grow up in Morgantown and, until recently, I lived everywhere, from Tucker County to Orange County, Ca. I moved back in August. If the Citizens Academy did one thing, it really just made me fall in love with my city again,” Tony Antonini said following the 2024 academy.
Interested citizens can apply online or send applications by mail to the City of Morgantown Special Projects Coordinator at 430 Spruce St., Morgantown, WV 26505. Hard copies of the application are also available at the front desk of the City Annex Building, located at 389 Spruce St.
The application deadline is March 3. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by March 17. Those who are not selected will have their information held for future sessions.
For more information, email SpecialProjects@morgantownwv.gov, call 304-225-4218 or check out morgantownwv.gov.
