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Morgantown City Council - July 21, 2026
Published: Jul 21, 2026
Grace Shelter Director Provides Update on Operations, Funding Challenges, and Future Plans
Mindy Thorne, director of Catholic Charities Grace Shelter, provided an update on the shelter's operations. The 19-bed emergency shelter is consistently full, with a client turnaround time reduced to less than four months through increased partnerships. Thorne highlighted a "housing first" mentality and a focus on preparing clients for housing responsibilities. She noted that 11 out of 19 current clients are employed, partly due to collaboration with Morgantown Transit Authority. The shelter served over 200 clients in 2025, and partnered on an emergency winter shelter that housed 70 clients, with only five returning to the streets. Planning for the next winter shelter is underway, with a positive outlook for its return to Hazel's House of Hope, pending an MCR board meeting. Funding remains a significant challenge, with a denied request to the county commission and a current deficit of $28,000 for the winter shelter budget. Thorne also discussed efforts to secure additional funding through grants, including requests for "home for good" and ESG funding, and collaborations with HealthRight, Valley Healthcare, and WVU Medicine. Council members inquired about the shelter's turnaround rate, referral sources (including mental health facilities, Ruby, and jail systems), and overall shelter needs. Thorne expressed a desire for more permanent beds and discussed the challenges of operating with reduced capacity due to occupancy limits, while still accommodating overflow cases. The discussion also touched upon the potential development of additional day space, with a pre-construction bid meeting scheduled for August 10th, aiming for completion by late November. Thorne emphasized the need for job resources and disability services. Regarding bus transportation, clients do not qualify for residential passes, and the commitment from Mountain Line Transit Authority ended in June, shifting the financial responsibility to Grace Shelter. H3 has received a donation for bus passes and is seeking additional funds.
City Council Approves 2026 Street Improvement Project; Details on Paving Plan and Utility Coordination
Damian Davis, Director of Public Works and Engineering, presented the bid call for the 2026 Street Improvement Project. Anderson Excavating submitted the low bid of $758,000, with Prada Paving as the second lowest bidder. This project is within budget. The paving plan involves breaking the city into smaller areas to reduce costs and improve contractor efficiency. Some streets will be removed from the project at the request of MUB and Star City, with replacements planned. The project aims to pave approximately 5.6 miles of roadway, aligning with the pace of the 2025 paving project. At this pace, the city anticipates completing a quarter of its streets over the next five years, leading to a 20-year rotation for paving. Future plans include a pavement preservation program focusing on crack sealing, fog sealing, and microsurfacing to extend road life, though local contractors for these specialized treatments are scarce. The current 2025 paving project is 60-70% complete, with Prada Paving performing the work. The city is also planning a 5-year paving program, modifying previous assessments to group streets for constructability. The discussion also covered the separation of curb ramp projects from paving projects to improve efficiency and address settlement issues. North High Street is scheduled for completion before students move into dorms, with a target completion date around August 11th. The project will extend to Willie Street. The city is collaborating with utility companies, including MUB, to ensure more significant and timely repairs after utility cuts, tracking 42 locations with 13 completed. The cost per mile is approximately $135,000, comparable to regional cities like Fairmont and Clarksburg. Future plans include exploring pavement preservation and addressing larger roads as separate projects to seek additional funding. The city is also working with the gas company to improve repair quality and track utility work. The paving schedule aims to start earlier in the season to avoid conflicts with the academic year. The city is considering collaborations with other entities for asphalt pricing. DOH has planned projects including High Street, Spruce Street, and Mon Boulevard for the upcoming year, along with the Walnut Street bridge replacement.
Community Volunteer Efforts Highlighted; Historic Cemetery Sign Recovered; Flock Camera Issue Acknowledged
Councilmember Michael discussed recent volunteer efforts, including a cleanup on Don Knots Boulevard and Greenbag Road, and assisting with resetting a headstone at Oak Grove Cemetery as part of a Morgantown Mosaic project. She also highlighted the successful retrieval of a state-commissioned historic landmark sign for Oak Grove Cemetery, which had been lost for six years in a DOH warehouse. This sign, a result of engagement from the Historic Landmarks Commission and efforts by Councilmember Michael and former councilor Keki, is now with Public Works and anticipated for installation. Councilmember Butcher mentioned flock cameras as a significant community issue being taken seriously and explored for options. He also announced that enhanced connectivity will be a topic for discussion at the next meeting.
Concerns Raised Over Board of Zoning Appeals Conduct; Community Gateway Improvements and Flock Camera Issue Discussed
Councilmember Butcher expressed concerns about the conduct of the Board of Zoning Appeals, stating that their behavior has been disappointing and puts the city at risk. He noted that city staff has been engaged and appreciated their work, but encouraged more professional and better behavior from the board. Councilmember DS confirmed that a training session for the board is forthcoming. Councilmember Michael highlighted the importance of community gateways and recent cleanup efforts on Don Knots Boulevard and Greenbag Road, thanking public works and the Department of Highways for their coordination. She also mentioned volunteering at Oak Grove Cemetery for a Morgantown Mosaic project and the discovery and retrieval of a historic landmark sign for the cemetery that had been lost for six years. Councilmember Butcher also expressed concern about flock cameras, stating that he hears and takes the issue seriously, and that options are being explored. He also announced that enhanced connectivity will be discussed at the next meeting.
City Moves to Streamline Permit Process for Private Outdoor Designated Areas
Assistant City Manager Emily Maserelli presented an ordinance to move the process for issuing permits for private outdoor designated (POTA) areas to an administrative function. Currently, a committee reviews applications, but due to infrequent meetings and difficulty in scheduling, the goal is to streamline the process and allow city staff to handle applications administratively. This change is intended to speed up turnaround times for businesses applying for licenses. The POTA committee has met only once or twice a year, and has had no significant issues reported by police, fire, or ABCA. The ordinance aims to improve efficiency by removing the need for committee meetings, agenda posting, and minute-taking. The committee currently has vacancies, making this an opportune time to transition to an administrative process. The mayor, who sat on the committee, expressed comfort with the change due to the lack of reported issues.
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The Morgantown News archive
Land Reuse and Preservation Agency - July 23, 2026
Board of Zoning Appeals - July 15, 2026
Morgantown City Council - July 7, 2026
Morgantown Ward and Boundary Commission - July 6, 2026
City Council Workshop - June 30, 2026
Morgantown Ward and Boundary Commission - June 22, 2026
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