City Eyes Budget Priorities

 

 

Lynn Bledsoe

Jobe Reporter

 

Morgantown City Council held its regular meeting on March 12, 2026. One City council member was not present due to sickness.

First, Mayor Phelps wanted to acknowledge Jody Forgy and all the work he had done for the City of Morgantown.

In Utilities, it was reported that they had installed a few gas taps. The week of March 16, they will be switching phone and internet service to NCTC to save money.

Planning and Zoning reported they approved three permits, and two requests for zoning hearings to be held in the April 7, 2026, meeting. The two requests are the IDA project on the river, and the other will be the justice center.

Code Enforcement had four new cases, two citations, and one lien was placed on a property. The  TAPP lighting grant was resubmitted to apply for more funding. The River Park grant needs more work on the scope of the project to be in line with the amount of funding that is needed.

Housing is at 89% occupancy with one 1-bedroom, seven 2-bedrooms, ten 3-bedrooms, and two 5-bedrooms available. The training in Las Vegas was a big help to housing, for learning how to handle multiple issues. The construction project is 54 % complete.

MOGO reported in  February that the ice storm lowered the MOGO transportation to 797 riders and 424 meals.

Morgantown Police reported for February, there were 172 dispatch calls to service, 8 motor vehicle accidents, 9 arrests, 2 new criminal cases, 19 traffic stops- 12 traffic citations, 12 courtesy citations, bringing the total to 689 calls to service.

The City Clerk’s office is currently working on the audit and budget. The pool season private party acceptance starts April 1, 2026. The City is currently accepting applications for summer employees

Public works were in risk and safety training recently.

The Fire Department reported for February they helped with the following: auto accidents: city- 1, county-3, medical assistance: city-2,  county-6,   calls for assistance: city-0, county -3, calls cancelled en route: city-0, county-1, structure fires: city-1, county-2, woods or grass fires: city-1, county-2, in total 21 runs. Several trainings and an upcoming training for school bus extraction have been completed or will be held, and the department has added six new members.

Mayor updates: four employees attended City Days and City Nights, Mayor Phelps presented KY Senate Bill 11, approved on to the House now. Crafts with the Mayor were held. The Eva J. Hall building hosted the Lincoln-Reagan dinner with great success. Four women of the city government attend a state conference. The City will be hosting the Chamber Lunch on April 23. Congressman Brett Guthrie toured the Delta Faucet factory on March 12 and viewed their newly automated lines. Blacktopping on Middle Ferry Road, Helm Lane, Arch Moore Street, Otis White Street,  Kent Manor Drive, Oak Valley Drive, South Tyler Street, Parkway Lane, Morgantown Manufacturing Drive, Charles Black walking trail, and Hill Haven

The cemetery will be completed before June 30, 2026. This will make every city street blacktopped in 10 years and will complete the 10-year plan.

In the new business, the Planning and Zoning board position recommended by Mayor Phelps was Richie Ellis. Council accepted.

The Code Enforcement Board seat suggested by Mayor Phelps was Chloe Flenner. Accepted by the Council.

Resolution 2026-01, designating the KY Emergency Management Applicant Agent and assigning someone to apply for Federal Funds, was accepted by City Council following the Mayor’s recommendation of Dustin Embry, Morgantown Fire Chief.

The budget wish list discussion for Morgantown was last on the night’s business. Mayor Phelps asked Council members what they would like to see done in the city. Mayor Phelps stated the city is actively working on the empty parking lot architect working on it. The Mayor would like to see a fountain installed. Council members’ suggestions were; Sawmill Road ditch area needs to be fixed, budget 250k for the park, subcontract to different individuals to complete different parts of the job to save money. Two cars for the police department are needed. The city is looking into a fleet service for the police cars, which will include the MOGO bus also. It is more money up front, but it saves long-term. The Mayor asked if anyone wants to be a police officer to contact his office or the city police to get an application. The suggestion of a Kayak locker to set up at Woodbury, so residents and visitors can rent a kayak for the day has been worked on yet? The Mayor said it is being worked on.  The Council also asked about looking at the budget to see what taxes were lowered and if they could be lowered further. The road to the river was black topped last year but was damaged by a food truck, which is being looked at ,and a road tile has been repaired in that area to help with the water drainage. Fire department stated they needed equipment for the ladder truck to have all the required items; one ladder is over $1000. New turnout gear costs $4,500 per firefighter. The last gear was bought in 2018. The 1st district department said they would buy two if the city buys 2. They also need special equipment because they will be secondary to the ambulance service. This truck will also require inspections at a cost of $1,500. Once completed, all of this will lower the ISO, which helps homeowners’ insurance to be lowered. The industrial park submitted two new business and a lot of the factories are looking to expand. $400,000 worth of road work to the industrial park is scheduled to be completed

Requests for the park and ball fields included regular upkeep and the construction of batting cages. A sidewalk was suggested to connect Boat Factory Road and Main Street toward the cemetery. Bell Street Cemetery also needs improvements, as a historical marker will be placed there.

April 2, 2026, will be the next council meeting. It will be a special-called meeting due to the date change.