Morgantown Celebrates Departing City Councilor Brian Butcher 

The Morgantown City Council kicked off business at its most recent meeting by discussing the Greenmont Neighborhood Project. The city received a $500 mini-grant to build a permanent information kiosk by the Arch Street Islands, which are grassy median spaces in the neighborhood. One side of the kiosk will highlight community updates and events, and the other side will feature the history of Greenmont. 

Next, Rick Bout provided details about the upcoming Urban Bow Hunt happening from September 5 through December 31. This is the 16th year the city has sponsored the deer hunt, which is held to reduce Morgantown’s deer population, while addressing food insecurity. The program is only 163 pounds away from reaching eight tons of venison donated to local food pantries and distributors. 

Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) chairman Eric Carlson also gave details about a $4.6 million water project in the Morgan Run area. The project will replace water lines and add four fire hydrants. Non-affected city ratepayers will not see an increase in their bills, and affected residents will pay around $77.13 a month to service the loan. 

Next, Ace Parsi, the Democratic nominee for West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, voiced his concerns about Flock cameras in Morgantown and the county’s opioid settlement funds being spent to purchase them. 

Flock Safety is a company that creates license plate tracking cameras. The Monongalia County Commission recently approved a three-year $180,000 contract with Flock Safety for 20 cameras. 

The council also approved several urban planning-related  measures: Adding Heartfield Road into the city street system, updating the Building and Stormwater Code, transferring a property on Greenbag Road to the West Virginia Division of Highways and increasing fees for Stop Work Order violations. 

Mayor Danielle Trumble ended the meeting by formally recognizing the work exiting Councilor Brian Butcher accomplished over his five years in office. 

Butcher is the co-founder of West Virginia Housing Justice, which is a non-profit organization helping those facing housing crises. He also served as the City Council Liaison for the Morgantown Human Rights Commission and led many community initiatives, including establishing the Turtle Park Children’s Fairy Garden. This is a neighborhood-built pollinator garden with a little fairy village included. 

Other councilors shared gratitude for Butcher’s mentorship, thorough legislative research, and commitment to local equity and justice. 

In his farewell speech,  Butcher talked about the recent passing of Dolly Parton and thanked his past mentors and other city councilors for welcoming and helping him. 

In his final remarks, Butcher said, “The years I spent in the seat have been some of the most challenging and rewarding times of my life.”

But he also gave a little warning to the future seat holder about how hard it is to be in the public eye as a commissioner. 

“Nothing could’ve prepared me for when I was very ill, and for a couple of months, I missed council meetings. And seeing people celebrating that online…that hurt a lot.”

Ultimately, he advised future members to lead with moral intuition:

 “All you have to do is be a good person. Let your moral intuition guide you, and you’re going to make the right decision.”