Focus of reservoir website shifting from building to recreation

MORGANTOWN — Morgantown Assistant Metropolis Supervisor Emily Muzzarelli stated Tuesday she is hopeful town can start developing leisure enhancements at MUB’s Flegal Reservoir property within the spring. 

Town intends to hunt design proposals on a pair of pedestrian bridges that may enable entry to trails deliberate for the 125-acre property.  

“Now we have tentative plans. We’re going to recirculate with the property homeowners, however we now have tentative concepts of what we want to do there. There are a pair areas that may require structural design of crossings over the tributaries that are available,” Muzzarelli defined. 

MUB, town and BOPARC executed a three-way settlement final September by means of which MUB’s focus will likely be on the reservoir as a water supply, whereas town and BOPARC design, assemble and oversee the leisure elements utilizing American Rescue Plan Act {dollars}.  

The West Virginia Division of Pure Assets stocked the 370-million reservoir with bait fish earlier this 12 months. 

Along with the paths, swimming, fishing and non-motorized boating will likely be permitted. 

Muzzarelli’s feedback adopted a gathering of the utility’s board of administrators throughout which Assistant Normal Supervisor Wealthy Rogers stated the development of the mission, which started in March 2018, is mainly performed avoid wasting fencing alongside a portion of the property line. 

Rogers defined “darkish sky” lighting meant to attenuate gentle air pollution and impression on neighbors has been put in. 

MUB member and Morgantown Metropolis Councilor Dave Harshbarger stated millings from town’s summer season paving work have been delivered to the positioning and will likely be used to assemble a car parking zone within the coming weeks. 

It was beforehand famous the utility plans to work with the West Virginia Division of Highways to restore Higher Cobun Creek Highway following years of building on the Flegal Dam and Reservoir website.

“Individuals ought to be getting excited,” MUB President Barbara Parsons stated. “I’m excited. It’s lovely up there.” 

In different information from Tuesday’s assembly, the board voted to offer Normal Supervisor Mike McNulty a 3% elevate, which mirrors the elevate permitted by the board for all MUB staff. 

McNulty has served as MUB’s prime govt because the January 2021 retirement of Tim Ball. He was employed with a beginning annual wage of $170,000. 

“We will’t be any extra happy together with your efficiency and are actually right here to help you and what you could do to maintain MUB on the prime of the listing of water utilities within the state of West Virginia,” Parsons stated. “We’re right here for you and we’re glad you’re right here for us.”