Morgantown council approves equipment purchases, $75,000 DPW loan and hires new deputy

The Morgantown Town Council unanimously approved a package of equipment purchases and financing measures during its June 8 meeting, including a $25,000 vac truck, a $75,000 loan for the Department of Public Works (DPW) garage and the hiring of a new deputy.

Council President Joe Blevins told the council the contractor Reed & Sons is nearly finished with the street project and will complete customer hookups and repave areas where streets were excavated. Council members voted to approve Reed & Sons Pay Application #11 for $88,724.17 and a subsequent pay application for $151,315.00, and they approved Change Order #2 for $13,795.42.

The council approved purchasing a vac truck from Piercefield Contracting for $25,000 with a three-year loan through Peoples Bank; Jeremy Baker made the motion and Jewel Blevins seconded. The council separately approved a motion authorizing Council President Joe Blevins to sign loan documents connected to that purchase.

Separately, members approved moving forward on a Peoples Bank loan for the DPW garage. The council authorized a $75,000 loan at a 5.5% interest rate over 10 years and authorized the council president to sign related documents so the bank could proceed with closing, contingent on submission of the approved minutes.

DPW manager Brad Cooper reported operational needs for the lagoon and requested a Triple Point Aeration System. Council ratified the $86,000 purchase to be made from remaining funds from an earlier project. The council also ratified purchases of a crack-and-seal machine and a fan motor for the 252 lift station, and approved adding meeting-room televisions at a cost of $4,724.95 from Live Wire Alarm LLC.

The council voted to have Kleinpeter Consulting complete SRF disbursement request forms tied to ongoing projects and accepted a Community Crossing Grant of $333,225 for street paving, with a local MVH restricted-fund match of $66,625; Grady and Sons was awarded the paving contract.

On public safety staffing, Town Marshal Ryan Swank requested approval to hire Paul Henderson at $31.25 per hour to replace John Bise. Stacie Baker moved to hire Henderson and Jeremy Baker seconded; the motion passed unanimously. Council also approved purchasing body armor for the new deputy.

Votes at a glance - Vac truck purchase, $25,000: approved (motion: Jeremy Baker; second: Jewel Blevins). - Authorization for Council president to sign vac-truck loan documents: approved (motion: Jeremy Baker; second: Jewel Blevins). - DPW garage loan, $75,000 at 5.5% for 10 years: approved (motion: Jewel Blevins; second: Courtney Allen). - Triple Point Aeration System, $86,000: ratified (motion: Jewel Blevins; second: Courtney Allen). - Reed & Sons Pay Application #11, $88,724.17 and Pay Application #12, $151,315.00: approved. - Change Order #2, $13,795.42: approved. - Kleinpeter Consulting to complete SRF forms: approved. - Community Crossing Grant acceptance and contract award to Grady and Sons: noted/accepted. - Hire of Paul Henderson at $31.25/hr: approved (motion: Stacie Baker; second: Jeremy Baker). - Multiple equipment ratifications (crack & seal, fan motor, gravel): approved.

The council discussed contractor workmanship on a deputy-clerk desk built by Rose Construction and voted to seek reimbursement because the desk is failing; Joe Blevins requested funds be returned to the town. Several DPW purchases that might be needed for the garage (spray foam insulation, large garage doors) were discussed but council members indicated some items should be paid from loan proceeds and no final decision on those purchases was recorded.

The meeting adjourned after a short public-comment period. The minutes were later approved and attested on July 13, 2026.