A divided Monongalia County Commission decided Wednesday to put the fate of the county’s $2-a-week service fee proposal before voters in a Feb. 2 special election.
In a 2-1 vote, the commission approved an order implementing the fee and establishing the election. Commissioner Asel Kennedy and President Bob Bell voted in favor, while Commissioner John Pyles voted against it.
The order included several changes to a version that was presented to commissioners last week, among them a new special-election date and a project list prioritized by the Greater Morgantown Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board.
The election date was pushed back one week — from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2, 2008 — because of laws that require County Clerk Carye Blaney to give advance notice of voting precinct changes. Some polling locations will have to be changed for the election, according to Brian Helmick, an attorney with Spillman, Thomas & Battle who advised the county’s Service Fee Advisory Board.
After sufficient notice is given, the commission must approve an order authorizing the changes at least 90 days prior to an election. The commission will likely consider that matter Nov. 1, Helmick said.
A list of 19 projects — 18 construction projects and one item for demolition, engineering and rightof-way acquisition — included in the service fee order was prioritized based on rankings provided by MPO members last week. Commissioner Asel Kennedy asked MPO members to submit their preferences as a compromise solution to debate over whether the list should be prioritized or not.
“If at all possible, we’re going to take those first five — which is about $50 million — and if at all possible, those are our priority items,” Kennedy said.
The top five projects on the list include the widening of University Avenue from Pleasant Street to Fayette Street (which is listed as three separate projects), the widening of West Run Road and performance upgrades to Van Voorhis Road. Though the list is fully prioritized in the service fee order, Helmick said commissioners will not have to complete the projects in that sequence.
The order states that the projects will be completed at the discretion of the commission in consultation with the MPO.
“That allows the community to have input into our decision,” Kennedy said of the MPO requirement.
After confirming the details of the fee order, commission President Bob Bell asked for public comments.
John Dugan, of Little Falls, repeated a previous concern that average citizens should have been given the opportunity to serve on the Service Fee Advisory Board and provide input regarding the proposal.
“We had MPO meetings for six years,” Bell said. “Anybody was welcome to come and make a public comment at every meeting. The public did have the opportunity.”
Jim Gaston, of Star City, said the commission must do something to resolve the county’s traffic problems, because the state has failed to provide adequate funding to do so.
“We have to do something ourselves to get this thing moving forward,” he said.
Morgantown City Councilman Don Spencer agreed.
“There are very few ways that we can raise money,” he said. “This is the only tool we have publicly to raise this kind of money.”
Kennedy moved to adopt the service fee order as amended. Bell seconded the motion, at which time Pyles asked to speak.
Pyles read a three-page, handwritten statement that outlined his concerns and explained why he could not support the service fee order, calling it a poorly designed, “quick fix solution” to a serious problem.
“I believe, before the commission votes to spend $85,000 of taxpayer money for a special election, we should have a better product for the voters to consider,” he said.
Pyles suggested that the state Legislature revisit the issue during the legislative session in January. He said a new referendum, based on changes made by the Legislature, could be added to the May primary ballot — a move that would save the county $85,000 on a special election.
Kennedy and Bell voted in favor of the fee order following Pyles’ statement. Pyles voted no.
If a simple majority of county voters approve the service fee in the Feb. 2 special election, Helmick said, the fee will take effect July 1.
The $2-a-week service fee will be deducted from the paychecks of people employed in Monongalia County — full time, part time or self-employed — regardless of the county in which they reside.
Per state legislation, county workers who are not registered to vote in Monongalia County will not be permitted to vote on the proposal.
The service fee is expected to generate a total of $150 million in revenue for road construction projects over the next 30 years. About $50 million-$55 million will be available up-front through the sale of tax-exempt bonds. The remaining projects will be completed on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Helmick noted that the order approved Wednesday provides options that allow commissioners to modify the service fee plan, though any changes would have to be approved by voters.
“The goal is not to get these projects done over 30 years,” Helmick said. “The goal is to maximize as much bonding capacity as we can as early as possible to get those projects done as early and quickly as possible.”