Based on input from the Greater Morgantown Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Monongalia County Commission may create a short list of road-project priorities before voting on the county’s $2-a-week service fee proposal next week, according to Commissioner Asel Kennedy.
At an MPO Policy Board meeting Thursday, Kennedy suggested prioritizing the top four or five projects that could be completed using $50 million-$55 million in up-front revenue that would be generated by the sale of special bonds.
The idea was offered as a compromise solution to a lengthy debate about whether an approved list of 18 road construction projects should be prioritized before voters weigh in on the list in a special election proposed for January.
MPO members were asked to rank the projects and return the list to MPO Director Chet Parsons, who will compile the results and forward them to the commissioners.
“Right now, I would lean toward the idea that we would identify that $40 [million]-$50 million combination of projects that we could do first,” Kennedy said. “That, I think, is more realistic than trying to rank them [all].”
Though the bonds are expected to bring in $50 million-$55 million, Kennedy said the short list of priorities should total $40 million-$50 million to accommodate changes in the estimated bond revenue or project costs.
With the bonds, the service fee is expected to generate $150 million for road construction projects during the next 30 years. Projects that are not completed using the up-front revenue from the sale of the bonds will be completed later on a payas-you-go basis. Kennedy said those priorities would be determined by the commission, based on MPO recommendations, at a later date.
Morgantown Mayor Ron Justice, a policy board member, said Kennedy’s compromise was a good solution for the commission.
“You all need to have some flexibility to do what you need to do as a government body,” he said.
Much of the debate about priorities took place between Kennedy and board member Barbara Parsons, also a Monongalia County Board of Education member. Parsons advocated a prioritized list for the public to see prior to a vote.
“I am just concerned that if we leave this wide open as far as priorities, it’s going to cause a lot of mistrust in the outcome of this process,” Parsons said.
Kennedy felt a prioritized list would limit the commission’s ability to complete the projects in the future.
“I just don’t want us to lock ourselves into too much,” Kennedy said. “I don’t want us to lock ourselves in so that 10 years from now, this makes no sense whatsoever.”
The proposed $2-a-week service fee would be deducted from the paycheck of anyone who works in Monongalia County, regardless of which county they reside in.
Commissioners approved a list of 18 construction projects that could be funded using revenue from the fee last week. The fee will not pay for all 18 projects, but county officials hope to leverage state and federal funds to do the remaining improvements.
Commissioners must approve an order implementing the fee next week for a special election to be held on the suggested date of Jan. 26. A simple majority of voters would have to approve the fee and the project list for the plan to pass.
TO LEARN MORE about the service-fee plan, go to dominionpost.com and click on the Greater Morgantown MPO icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. At the MPO site, scroll to the right and click on the Monongalia County Commission logo for a detailed project list.
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 commission will consider an order to implement the service fee.