MORGANTOWN – In August 2025, the Monongalia County Commission approved a memorandum of understanding that would allow the town of Star City to utilize revenue generated by its Boyers Avenue TIF district for a streetscape project along University Avenue.
The town is hopeful the commission will get involved in other ways as well.
During a recent work session, Star City representatives requested the commission provide $308,500 for the project to cover the cost of 25 decorative street lights and the 2,400 feet of conduit necessary to power them.
The total cost of the improvements, which would run less than half a mile from St. Mary’s Catholic Church down to Boyers Avenue, is estimated at $1.1 million.
Star City currently has about $1.6 million in its TIF fund.
“We understand if you can’t give the whole amount to us but it would be very disappointing to get nothing, considering we’ve come twice now and both times we were told, ‘Use your TIF money,’ and so that’s what we did,” Mayor Sharon Doyle said before recalling the commission’s $400,000 contribution toward new traffic lights in Granville as well as its support for Westover’s Holland Avenue project ($125,000).
“We’re just trying to get our fair share here,” she said. “We feel like we’re the ones being told no all the time.”
Based on initial talks with The Thrasher Group, the sidewalk improvement project could be out to bid by the start of August and completed by the end of September.
Doyle said the town also intends to reach out to the West Virginia Division of Highways regarding the condition of University Avenue.
“During this last winter, we literally went down to the old brick road. That’s how bad it was. It needs completely milled and it needs completely paved – not just resurfaced,” she said, explaining the majority of excess funds in the city’s approximately $2.5 million budget support its own paving efforts.
“Our side streets are in great shape, but when you get out on the main road, it’s horrible. It’s embarrassing,” she said.
