THE MONONGALIA COUNTY COMMISSION will meet in regular session at 10 a.m. Wednesday, in County Commission chambers at the Monongalia County Courthouse, 243 High St.
The Monongalia County Commission added three projects to the list for the county’s proposed $2-aweek service fee Wednesday.
The new projects are a W.Va. 705 connector, a Falling Run corridor and upgrades to Mileground Road.
The list was unanimously approved at a meeting. Greater Morgantown Metropolitan Planning Organization Director Chet Parsons said the original list of 15 projects was revised based on feedback from a public forum sponsored by The Dominion Post last week and a meeting with state Division of Highways officials Tuesday.
The proposed fee, officials said, would generate about $150 million for road construction during the next 30 years. The total cost of the 18 projects is about $295 million. The fee is not intended to cover the full cost of all the projects.
“Having the projects listed, I think, is very important so that we have as many avenues as possible to fund these improvements,” Parsons said. “Realistically, we can’t hope that those projects will be built with funds from the service fee, just because of their enormous cost, but having it here, we can hope that it will influence future funds from outside sources.”
There was no discussion Wednesday of changing the proposed fee.
The Pastureland Parkway, as the W.Va. 705 connector is often called, would link Stewartstown Road to Monongalia County 857. The Falling Run corridor would then connect W.Va. 705 to Beechurst Avenue. Both roads would provide easier access to Interstate 68.
Though DOH officials said Tuesday that the MPO could expect about $74.7 million total in state funding through 2032, county officials have expressed hope that state or federal matching funds could be leveraged by including the three projects in the plan. Advisory Board chair Steve LaCagnin has said state officials promised they will not decrease highway funding in Monongalia County if the service fee passes.
According to revised cost estimates provided by Parsons, the three projects combined would cost an additional $145 million, including right-of-way, demolition and engineering.
The estimates for the W.Va. 705 connector and Falling Run corridor are about $40 million lower than earlier estimates. The 705 job was originally expected to cost about $100 million, and the Falling Run job $85 million to $90 million.
Commissioner John Pyles questioned the revised prices.
Parsons attributed much of the change to property costs and noted the previous estimates were very conservative.
“The engineers had estimated a lot more earthwork than I think was realistic,” Parsons said. “They also had the property costs a little higher than has been shown in recent projects.”
The $2-a-week service fee would be deducted from the paychecks of people employed in Monongalia County — full time, part time, or self-employed — regardless of where they live.
The County Commission must approve the service fee proposal by Sept. 26 for a special election to be held on the suggested date of Jan. 26.
The project list has not been prioritized.
After the meeting, Pyles, Commissioner Asel Kennedy and Commission President Bob Bell, all said a prioritized list will not be determined unless the service fee proposal is approved by a simple majority of voters at the polls.
“We might promise something we can’t deliver,” Kennedy said, noting that funding estimates may change.
Kennedy acknowledged that several people are already pushing for certain projects to be moved to the top of the list, but all three commissioners said they will base their priorities on recommendations from the MPO. Kennedy said creating a prioritized list too early could create problems down the road.
“If a hillside slips in [on the third project], how do you go to number four?” he said.
In other business, the commission:
Accepted bids for a new record indexing system for the county clerk’s office. Bids of $157,530 and $199,000 were referred to County Clerk Carye Blaney for review.
Expressed their support of the Everettville Historical Society’s efforts to purchase the old Arnettsville Elementary School building. Pyles suggested the commission contribute $30,000 to the project, but no motion was made.
Approved formal complaints for three dilapidated county properties. Property owners Shirley Stieringer, of Wana, Mohammed Howard, of Marion Meadows, and Joseph and Kimberly Cesa, of Pursglove, each have 15 days to clean up their property before they face fines of $100 per day.
Voted to reimburse South Middle School for the purchase of 30 new auditorium seats at a cost of $4,500. The school has allowed the county to use the auditorium for several public meetings.