Cameras going up downtown, warming shelter ‘disaster’ looming

MORGANTOWN — Morgantown Metropolis Supervisor Kim Haws stated about half of the surveillance cameras bought by town have been put in downtown. 

Throughout a Tuesday night report back to metropolis council, Haws stated 4 cameras have been put in in every of 4 areas, together with the Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park, Excessive Avenue’s intersections with each Walnut and Nice streets and the Met Theatre, which serves because the technical hub of the digicam community. 

One other seven cameras  have been put in at 430 Spruce Avenue, protecting that constructing, Morgantown Market Place and Morgantown Metropolis Corridor. 

4 extra cameras will come on-line this week on the intersection of Excessive and Fayette streets. 

The town used $77,000 in American Rescue Plan Act {dollars} to buy 49 cameras to function a deterrent and help enforcement downtown.  

In accordance with data supplied by town, set up will doubtless run one other $7,500 plus $65,000 for community assist. 

Haws stated the cameras can and shall be monitored dwell.  

“There are 26 extra cameras to be put in within the downtown space. We’ve added a pair areas that weren’t initially a part of this, and a number of them shall be targeted on what we name “scorching spots,” like there at Well being Proper. There are going to be plenty of cameras that go each methods down Wall Avenue in addition to two different alleys inside the downtown space,” Haws stated.  

In different information from Tuesday’s assembly, Councilor Danielle Trumble warned of a looming disaster concerning a winter warming shelter.   

Trumble stated so far town has put aside $40,000 for a shelter and the county has put up $10,000, however no shelter location has been secured and no group has stepped as much as lead that effort. 

Final winter, Hazel’s Home of Hope stepped in to host the shelter and was shortly overwhelmed as some 60 people had been unfold all through the constructing nightly.  

When the shelter closed on March 15, it was made clear H3 was not a great match for the warming shelter and wouldn’t serve that objective once more.   

Trumble stated H3 will broaden day room hours over the winter and that efforts to line up an appropriate location for in a single day lodging are ongoing. 

“Hopefully, we find yourself with one thing, however everybody simply must be conscious that it’s going to be a tricky winter right here proper now,” she stated. 

Lastly, Weez’s Approach has passed by the wayside. 

Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to create a pedestrian pathway between Overhill and Morgan streets, nevertheless it is not going to be named Weez’s Approach after Councilor Louise ‘Weez’ Michael as beforehand instructed. 

Whereas Michael stated she appreciated each the suggestion and assist from her fellow councilors, she and the neighborhood most well-liked Lavender Approach, which was cleared by MECCA 911 and accepted by council.