How?• Interviewed and surveyed over 300 community

members•Researched data using the US Census, the

Comprehensive Plan, multiple City Planning guides, and KRS Law.•Assistance provided by the KY Fire Marshalls Office,

The State Building Code Department, The BRADD Office, and Kentucky League of Cities.

REASSESSCONSIDER OR ASSESS AGAIN, ESPECIALLY WHILE PAYING ATTENTION TO NEW OR DIFFERENT FACTORS (VERB)

Why?The latest data available shows that since the release of this table, Morgantown’s median income has dropped even further to 11,839.00.

This would place Morgantown as Number 3 on this list.

A full time job with minimum wage would garner $15,080 per year.

Statistics• Morgantown’s wages trail behind both the BRADD and State levels• The average household income of the State is $41,141• Butler County’s Rate is $35,430• Morgantown’s again is $11,839.00

• The Poverty level in Morgantown is 52.1%• Butler County’s Rate is 25%

WHAT DOES THIS TELL US?Morgantown has a much higher concentration of Poverty stricken individuals than that of the County. That number is increasing. This tells us that there is an immigration of Poverty into the City.

WHY?

What are the Community’s thoughts?

• Number one comment: There are too many Low Income Housing Units in the City.• Data refutes this stance.• The average income of the Housing Authority Residents is $14,688.00• $2,849.00 Higher than that of the City as a whole.

If the Housing Authority Apartments were to vanish at this moment the Median Income of the City would actually decrease.

Amount of Rental Housing 2011-2014

Series1480

500

520

540

560

580

600

620

530

606

Rental Housing Rates

• Rental Housing Rates increased from 2011-2014 from 52% to 60%• 3 out of 5 homes in the City are Rentals

DOWNTOWN• There is a 50% Vacancy Rate in the Main Street Downtown Sector• It is thought that two of these vacant buildings have been closed by a

State Agency. (One has been proven)• Many of the Buildings do not have Utilities (Electric, Gas, Water,

Sewer)• 90% of these Buildings are owned by Butler County Residents

There are no Ordinances in place to give the City Authority to inspect the safety or interior of a building. Currently only the façade in Public

Right of way view can be assessed. Some of these buildings are compliant under today’s ordinances.

Survey Key Words

Opportunity

Kid's Acti

vities

Corruption

Jobs

Wages

Touris

m

Shopping

Restauran

ts

Things t

o doDrugs

Blighted in

frastr

ucture

Downtown

Workforce0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Keywords used in Survey

Main Key Words: Jobs, Retail/Restaurants, and Activities

Hurdles

• 1. Kentucky Copper: Reduces the City Budget by $264,000 per year

• Assuming Worst Case scenario

•2. The Tax structure for the City has been unchanged for many years.

City of Morgantown Revenue

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 20151100000

1200000

1300000

1400000

1500000

1600000

1700000

1800000

1900000

Revenue vs Inflation over 10 Years

Revenue Inflation

End Goal• The City must create an environment that is able to attract

homeowners into its limits. • The City must sustain an active Code Enforcement procedure that

enables it to combat the increasing amount of blight and unsafe homes and buildings.• The City must be an active participant in the community,

culminating an atmosphere that makes it a worthwhile place to live and work.• The City must maintain its current and future infrastructure while

insuring it has the funds necessary to do so.

REINVIGORATE

GIVE NEW ENERGY OR STRENGTH TO (VERB)

Morgantown Renaissance• The Program is divided into three categories:• Downtown Development• Streets, Sidewalks, and Infrastructure• Quality of Life

• Existing Comprehensive Goal Plans were used to determine this year’s main focus.• Each Category has a proposed Ordinance followed by other

improvements that coincide with the greater theme.

Action Items• There are 20 goals or projects for the City, they are

called Action Items.

• Each Action Item is listed with its Purpose, which Comprehensive Goals are achieved, the Process to complete it and the Estimated time of its start.

Downtown DevelopmentProposed Ordinance

Utilize KRS 99.705-99.730 to create an ordinance to condemn property and institute eminent domain. This, coinciding with heightened blighted structures ordinance paired with a higher tax bracket will encourage property owners to bring their structures up to code.• Example Ordinance included in Binders as Appendix A

Other Downtown Action Items• Creation of a Façade grant to be utilized by Downtown

Buildings• Creation of a Downtown District• Application to become a Kentucky Main Street• Application included in Binders as Appendix B

• Addition of benches, tables, and bike racks to Downtown• Renovation of City Hall• Addition use of Signage to Downtown

Streets, Sidewalks, and Infrastructure

Proposed OrdinanceA definitive Sidewalk Ordinance has not been passed by the City Council since 1954, 61 years ago.

An updated, enforced Ordinance is needed before further sidewalk improvements can be undertaken.

The Current Sidewalk Ordinance is included in the Binders as Appendix C

Other Infrastructure Action Items

• Creation of a long-term sidewalk renovation plan• Creation of a long-term street • Removal of the Security Trailer at the Entrance of the Park• Creation of a Gateways Plan• Creation of a Park Infrastructure Repair Plan

Quality of LifeProposed Ordinance

Increase the requirements for Mobile Homes, research if restricting Mobile Homes to Mobile Home Parks is needed. Utilize Planning and Zoning.

Proposed Mobile Home Ordinance is included in the Binders as Appendix D

Other Quality of Life Action Items

•Movies in the Park • Trail Fund Grant Application

• Application is included as Appendix E

• Provide Benches along Main Street Sidewalk• Research funding to provide lighting to this main thoroughfare

• Update and Renew Cemetery Processes• Continue efforts of the Morgantown Clean Up Program• Incorporate the International Property Maintenance Code into

Policy

Other Quality of Life Initiatives• Utilization of Main Street for Street Fairs• Encouragement of Art installations and Murals• Encourage Developers (Retail and Housing) to invest in the City• Encourage cooperation between government entities• Encourage businesses to locate in downtown• Utilize the City’s abilities and facilities to assist community events• Utilize existing Recycling infrastructure to create a more in-depth

program

REVITALIZEIMBUE SOMETHING WITH NEW LIFE AND VITALITY. (VERB)

  January February March April May June July August September October November December

Action 1 X                      

Action 2     X                  

Action 3     X                  

Action 4       X                

Action 5 X X X X X X X X X X X X

Action 6 X             X        

Action 7   X                    

Action 8           X            

Action 9               X        

Action 10                   X    

Action 11         X              

Action 12             X          

Action 13                       X

Action 14     X                  

Action 15         X X X X        

Action 16       X                

Action 17 X X X X X X X X X X X X

Action 18   X                    

Action 19 X X X X X X X X X X X X

Action 20 X                      

INDEX OF ACTION ITEMS

1. Blighted Building Ordinance   11. Removal of Trailer at Park

2. Downtown Building Façade Grant 12. City Gateways Plan

3. Downtown District Boundaries 13. Park Infrastructure Report

4. KY Main Street Committee 14. Mobile Home Requirements

5. Downtown Furniture 15. Movies at the Park

6. City Hall Renovation 16. Trail Grant Application

7. Downtown Banners/Signage 17. Main Street Bench Plans

8. Sidewalk Ordinance 18. Cemetery Program

9. Long-Term Sidewalk Plan 19. Morgantown Clean Up

10. LongTerm Street Plan     20. IPMC Code Research

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