Community Relations Community Relations
The Greater Morgantown area, as a diverse community of rather strong independent elements (such as WVU, Morgantown Energy Research Center, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Research Center, Ruby Memorial Hospital, Monongalia General Hospital, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Kennedy Federal Correctional Center, General Electric Plastics, etc.), agreed to cooperate in guiding the long-term evolution of Morgantown with a clearly defined vision of how we could become a caring community dedicated to developing a sustainable economy for our children to grow up and to find gainful employment here in this community.
The joint venture to forge cooperative community relations among all elements of the community began with a joint City/ County/ University forum to address problems of transportation and economic development. Plans were than developed for a major public/ private venture to revitalize the downtown central business district. The plans stimulated a large overflow of private capital investment that has literally changed the face of Morgantown, beginning in the downtown and riverfront districts.
The expanding medical and health care complex was a guiding factor in the evolution into a community that addresses social issues of adequate medical and housing facilities for all citizens. The religious community held up a mirror to examine our community and corporate conscience, and urged cooperation between all races and religious faiths. Because of the broad diversity of people in this community, developing a cohesive image has been very difficult. We have been coal miners, educators, researchers, and health care workers, and we must expect to diversify even more into information technology developers and managers, computer software developers, musicians, artists, and bankers.
The vision to do all of these things over the last few years required us to develop a strong identifiable image as the most progressive and desirable city in West Virginia in which to live and work. We have become a magnet to people from all over the eastern United States who visit, and then retire in this proud, patriotic, and friendly community. Morgantown has become known as the City that cooperates at all levels of government, sharing financial and all other resources that keep the City and County growing, and providing its citizens with services they require.
Since the initiation of the Vision 2000 program many years ago, we have twice as many people volunteering for all the boards and commissions that are required to advise our City. We have truly motivated and caring individuals working to make this the City of our vision.
This element of the Comprehensive Plan focuses on relationships among different independent governmental and institutional organizations and the need for these agencies to cooperate for a more prosperous future.
Goal A. A unified effort by the City, the University, and other public and corporate institutions within the political, physical, economic, and social frameworks of the community to enhance the well being of the greater Morgantown area.
Objective A1. To make this a nurturing and attractive community for residents, visitors, and students, and for retirees and corporations.
Strategies
A1a. Identify public and private sector entities in the community that have an interest in helping to develop and maintain effective communications with the general public on plans and programs that affect the community as a whole.
A1b. Work closely with Vision 2000 and other organizations which can represent important segments of the community, and seek to focus and mesh the plans and programs to make them more effective overall.
A1c. Conduct public forums every two years to address issues that have become apparent, and define the changes that need to be made in the succeeding two years.
A1d. Conduct public forums that focus on the issue of local government having more control over public (state-regulated) infrastructure and properties within the City.
Objective A2. Joint efforts to address common problems of growth, development, employment, and transportation.
Strategies
A2a. Twice a year, conduct a regional land use forum involving elected and appointed officials to achieve continuity of effort in addressing pressing issues and needs.
A2b. Jointly study, design, and implement construction of at least two park-and-ride facilities to serve the community, with initial focus on the employees, visitors, and students commuting to West Virginia University medical and campus facilities.
A2c. Continue to draft individuals from community organizations to work on downtown revitalization, Main Street Morgantown, and similar specific projects/programs in need of assistance from qualified residents.
A2d. Arrange a forum for representatives of federal, state, and local government offices to facilitate open dialogue on current and pending concerns.
A2e. Initiate a joint project between public institutions and private sector interests, to achieve cooperation and build working relationship.
A2f. Should the County decide to re-establish the Planning Commission, provide support through the funding of joint studies and sharing of office space and planning resources.