Morgantown council unanimously approves SkyWest lease extension and confirms sale of 4th Ward property

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown City Council at its Jan. 21 meeting gave final approval to two ordinances: a lease and airline agreement with SkyWest Airlines for service to Morgantown and an ordinance confirming the sale of city-owned property in the 4th Ward to Jones Place LLC. Both measures passed unanimously, 7-0.

The SkyWest agreement was presented by the airport director as a continuation of prior carrier leases. The director said the agreement is contingent on U.S. Department of Transportation certification of Essential Air Service (EAS) for the route and that the lease will add about $21,000 a year to the airport’s budget. The council moved and seconded approval and then recorded seven affirmative votes.

The second measure, an ordinance to confirm the prior sale of a property in the 4th Ward to Jones Place LLC, was described by the city attorney as a confirmatory step to correct title records where the deed was not recorded by the purchaser at the time of the prior sale. The city attorney told council staff had confirmed receipt of the purchase price and asked council to authorize the city manager to execute a confirmatory deed that will clear title records.

Both ordinances were approved on second reading with no amendment. The meeting record shows the council recorded “yes” votes from seven members for each ordinance. The city attorney said staff will prepare the confirmatory deed and seek a file-stamped copy for recordkeeping.

No additional conditions or contingencies beyond the EAS certification for the airline agreement were recorded in the meeting discussion. The council moved next to other business after the roll calls on the two ordinances.