RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, due to severe budget cuts, the Pittsburgh District of the US Army Corps of Engineers has cut the hours of operation of the Morgantown, Hildebrand, and Opekiska locks on the Upper Mon in WV to the point where river commerce and long-range recreational boating are badly hurt, and; WHEREAS, economic development of the Upper Mon region in WV is stymied by the Hildebrand and Opekiska locks being totally closed all year except for the hours of 12:30 p. m. to 8:20 p. m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays during the recreational boating season, and
WHEREAS, with the Morgantown lock now cut to dayshift only (7:00 a.m. - 3: 00 p.m) all year (but with Morgantown lock conforming to Hildebrand- Opekiska schedule
during recreational boating season), which virtually halts both commercial and long-range recreational boating south of the Morgantown lock;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The City of Morgantown:
1. Supports the "Interim Solution Upper Mon Lock Hours" proposed via letter fax to Congressman Mollahan by the Upper Monongahela River Association Incorporated on May 10, 2004, calling for our three Upper Mon locks to be open from 6:00 a. m. to 10: 00 p. m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays during the May 1 - October 31 recreational boating season, until such times as these three locks are restored to 24/7 operations all year, either through implementation of Congressman Mollahan 's initiative for remote operations of these locks from the Point Marion lock, or by funding sufficient to staff our three Upper Mon locks with lock operators, and;
2. The City of Morgantown feels that the modest 100K annual cost of the "Interim Solutuion Upper Mon Lock Hours " is feasible even in these times of federal budget difficulties, and, would enable MRRC and other organizations to pursue the overall economic and recreational development of our Upper Mon region in WV, and;
3. The City of Morgantown fully supports Congressman Mollahan 's initiative to provide for remote operation of our three Upper Mon locks from the Point Marion lock.