MORGANTOWN — In late October, the Monongalia County Commission approved what was described as a “loose” budget for its first allotment of American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
It was also pretty vague.
The commission noted that the overwhelming majority of that budget — $8.5 million of just over $10.2 million — would go to water and sewer projects.
During Tuesday’s meeting of the Morgantown Utility Board Board of Directors, just under $3 million of those funds were spoken for.
The body voted unanimously to approve a contract worth $2,998,293 with Morgantown’s Green River Group to extend MUB’s sanitary sewer infrastructure into the newly expanded portion of the Morgantown Industrial Park.
“The Mon County Commission is providing funds from ARP … We’ve been working with them on the language for an agreement for us to receive those dollars,” MUB General Manager Mike McNulty explained.
A sister project with an estimated cost of $5.27 million will expand MUB’s water infrastructure into the growing park. That expansion received a $2 million ARP-funded commitment from the U.S. Department of Commerce in October, with the rest to be provided by the developer through increment created by park’s TIF district.
In other news from Tuesday’s meeting, MUB leadership signed off on a three-way partnership known as MMAGIC, or Monongalia Morgantown Area Geospatial Consortium.
It has been explained that the collaboration will allow the GIS (geographic information system) offices of Morgantown, Monongalia County and MUB to work together to eliminate duplication of efforts and allow for cost sharing.
MUB’s vote follows approvals from Morgantown City Council and the Monongalia County Commission provided on Nov. 16 and 17, respectively.
Lastly, the body voted to provide MUB employees with a $100 Christmas bonus, matching the amount provided in 2019 and 2020.
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