County approves grant application and several requisitions for TIF and excise tax bond funds

At its May 28 meeting the Monongalia County Commission approved an application and several requisitions for county and project funds.

The commission approved an Emergency Management Preparedness Grant application for fiscal year 2023 with a requested amount of $147,175. The staff presenter characterized the item as an application with associated assurances and certifications that the board needed to sign. The commission approved the application by voice vote; no opposing votes were recorded.

The commission also approved Requisition Number 15 for the Series 2021B Harmony Grove Phase 1 administrative expense fund in the amount of $72,007.27; staff said those funds would be paid to the law firm Steptoe & Johnson for work on a 2025 restructuring and a boundary adjustment. The commission moved and seconded the motion and approved it by voice vote.

During consideration of University Town Center (UTC) requisitions, the board paused to correct an agenda order error and moved to amend a prior approval so the correct requisition number and fund were recorded. The commission approved a requisition in the amount of $1,200,000 for the UTC Series 2023C excise tax bond project fund (later clarified as related to a 2023B property tax bond project fund after the amendment). Commissioners also approved a separate requisition described on the record as a larger payment to multiple payees for UTC projects; the audio for that larger amount was unclear in the public record and the exact dollar figure was not specified during the meeting.

One commissioner apologized for the agenda confusion during the exchange; staff and the board corrected the motion on the record and then took the voice votes needed to pass the corrected items. The record shows unanimous voice approval for the grant application and the requisitions that were properly moved and seconded.

Why this matters: These actions authorize county staff to submit a federal/state preparedness grant application and to disburse bond and TIF-related funds for legal and project-related expenses tied to Harmony Grove and the University Town Center. The requisitions move funds to contractors and bond-related payees and clear administrative steps necessary to implement previously approved bond financings.

Details recorded in the meeting: Requisition 15 (Harmony Grove Phase 1 administrative expense fund) — $72,007.27, payee: Steptoe & Johnson (legal services for restructuring and boundary adjustment). UTC requisition — $1,200,000 approved for the Series 2023 excise/property tax bond project fund (agenda items and numbering corrected on the record). The transcript lists multiple payees for a large UTC disbursement (Somerset Bank and Trust; RMWC Piper Canyon; SMBC Capital Markets; Larson Design Group; Bailey Glasser; Recognique Corporation; Stratus Unlimited; The Cincinnati; Moore Design Associates; Colonial Design; Spillman; Thomas and Battle), but the aggregated dollar amount for that combined payment was unclear on the public record.

No motions to deny or table these items were recorded.