Star City Council Meeting August 18th

Morgantown Dominion Post
19 August 2015
By Conor Griffith

Kayakers in Monongalia County may one day have another spot to get in and out of the water.

Ella Belling, the executive director of the nonprofit Mon River Trails Conservancy, spoke before the Star City Council during its Tuesday night meeting asking it to consider supporting the building of a boat launch at the Van Voorhis Trailhead.

“This was the former Quality Glass site and it was run down and there were some shacks in the area. It’s now a nice green space that’s a popular trailhead,” Belling explained, adding that the area also has a parking lot, restroom and connecting path.

She said the group would like to install a small launch for non-motorized boats such as canoes, kayaks and row boats. A gangway would connect the launch to the extended walkway to avoid the deep muck on the river bank.

The planned launch would also be portable, so it can be taken out of the water during winter. Belling said the total cost of the project would be about $32,000. The Mon River Trails Conservancy has already raised about $10,000 by working with the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust, Upper Monongahela River Association and others.

Belling asked for council to support the project since the property is owned by Star City and the town would also be responsible for maintaining the launch.

Mayor Herman Reid said the town would have to take a look at its insurance policies and any inherited responsibilities associated with the launch before a decision is made.

“We’re definitely interested, it’s a great thing for Star City,” he said, adding that putting a launch in at the end of Van Voorhis Road would allow boaters easy access to docks in Star City and Morgantown.

In other business, the council voted to approve the lease-purchase of a new all-wheel drive Ford SUV for the Star City Police at a state bid for $28,618. This is to replace one of the department’s SUV that’s 8 years old.

Star City Treasurer Amy Cobalsky said the lease agreement would be for three years and the town would assume ownership of the Ford at the end of that term because state bids are not permitted to indebt future councils for small municipalities.