September 5, 2025 • 36 mins
Morgantown Sixth Ward Councilor Mark Downs of safe and affordable housing and the camping ban.
Morgantown Police Department Deputy Chief Chris Ruehmer on the "Beard it up" campaing to support The Cure Starts Now Foundation, which funds pediatric cancer research.
Morgantown Police Department Deputy Chief Chris Ruehmer on the "Beard it up" campaing to support The Cure Starts Now Foundation, which funds pediatric cancer research.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Now this is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown
to Klucksburg. If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call
the show toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty
five eight two five five. Now Here is your host
for the Talk of the Town, Mike Nolting.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Well, good Friday morning, Welcome to the program.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
It is nine oh six, you know, welcome to Talk
of the Town. We're focused on you and your family.
I'm Mike Nolting and on X I'm your news guy.
Look me up there now. Kyle Wiggs is our producer.
Eight hundred seven six five eight two five five and
the text line is three zero four talk three zero four,
Line up four Today six ward. Representative from the City
(00:53):
of Morgantown, Mark Downs joins us at nine point fifteen.
We're going to talk about his proposals for safe and
affordable housing in the Morgantown area. Downs mentioned that during
the last meeting that he has some proposals ready to go.
We're going to find out what they are. Morgantown Police
Department comes in at nine point thirty. Are going to
tell us about their Bearded Up campaign to raise awareness
(01:15):
for pediatric cancer and we'll take a look at some
headlines coming up in just a little bit. Got Nick
from z Bart here in Morgantown, actually, z Bart of Morgantown.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You'll find them just off I.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Sixty eight, Exit seven at the Fort Pierpont Plaza.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Hey, good morning, Nick. How are you?
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I'm good?
Speaker 5 (01:34):
Are you?
Speaker 6 (01:35):
Hey?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I'm doing great.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Let's see, let's talk a little bit about rust proofing
as we head into the season where uh, you know
we're gonna be running on sault.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean it's it's probably coming quicker than then,
we hope. But it's important, especially this time of year
to think about, you know, protecting the under body of
your vehicle front, you know, from rust and corrosion. That's
very you know, apparent here in Morgantown in West Virginia
as a whole. And we have a new wax formula
as well, so it's performing a little better for the
(02:05):
older vehicles that might have a little bit of surface
rust already.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Okay, Now, of course, z Bard of Morgantown is our
fifty Friday deal today.
Speaker 6 (02:15):
You get one.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Hundred dollars worth of services for just fifty bucks, so
you can go out to WAJ r dot com and
get more information about that. Now, Uh, what about ceramic
and his Z gloss Cody.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
Yeah, So, our our Z gloss as we call it,
is our ceramic coating, you know, triples the strength of
your pain helps keep it nice and clean. You never
have to wax your vehicle, you know, and I think it's,
you know, truly probably the best product out there to
keep your writhe you know, standing tall.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Now that particular formula is different from your.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
Competitors, correct, Yeah, we we're a three layer system right
off the bat. We're not just a top coat. So
like I always kind of think when you're when you're
like painting your walls in your home, you like you
use a primer, you know, and then you put your
pain just helps you know, thinking it up and gets
a better quality job. That's kind of the same way
with our code. And we have a wash primer and
attack primer and then you get the ceramics. So you're
getting a lot of protection on your vehicle.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Hey, you know, Nick, when it comes to rustproofing, I
don't mean to keep jumping around, but you know there
are people with older vehicles that might not think that
they could effectively rustproof their vehicles, but you actually have
a new way to approach that.
Speaker 6 (03:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
Absolutely, Like I said, we just have that new wax
formula that's just better for you know, older vehicles. It's
a little bit thinner, but you know, it has an
active kind of ingredient that has a cap capillary action,
so it kind of seeps into those nooks and crannies
a little better on that older vehicle where there might
be some rust starting. And it's just we've had great results.
We've you know, actually spent about two years developing it,
(03:46):
so it's it's performing really well.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Z Bart of Morgantown is just off I sixty eight
Exit seven to Fort Pier Punk Plaza. You can get
more details at is z bart dot com. So if
I'm driving around, Nick, can I just pull up and say, Hey,
I'm ready for a rust proofing.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Let's go.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
Uh, well, we're spraying several a day. Yeah, but you
know we always say we probably get you in within
a week or so, you know, so I think there,
so we have still plenty of time here to get
it done before the snow really starts flying. But you
can certainly stop in any time and talk to us
if you're interested. Me, no appointment needed, to just kind
of get some information and see how we can protect
your ride.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
You know, I bring that up because being busy is
a great thing for a couple of reasons. Number one,
it means people have nice cars that want to protect
and money to spend.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
And you know, just like a.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Restaurant, you wouldn't want to go to a restaurant with
an empty parking lot might not be good.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
You're busy, you must be doing a good job.
Speaker 5 (04:40):
Yeah, we we certainly try to. But yeah, we're definitely uh,
you know, appreciative of the you know, the community around
us if they support us greatly, and uh, you know,
we uh we we stay stay very very busy.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Once again, this is the fifty percent Friday deal today.
You can go out to w A j R. And
take advantage of that. Get one hundred dollars worth of
services for just fifty dollars. Give us your phone number.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Nick, Yeah, it's uh three or four three two two
five three six one?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Okay, perfect.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Now let's see there are a couple of other services.
I'm sure you can get more information at ZBar dot com.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Uh, but what would you like to close out with, Nick?
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (05:26):
Probably the Probably the biggest thing that's on our on
our radar, on our focus right now is we're all
opening a new store in the South Hills and Cannonsburg there,
so these these vouchers are also good there. We should
be opened up by the end of September here. So
if Morgantown isn't uh, if you're you know, you're listening,
you might not be local to Morgantown, you can, you know,
use it up there as well.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Okay, what's your address up there?
Speaker 5 (05:48):
It's two five, nine to nine Washington Road, right right
in Cannonsburg.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Okay, perfect.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Hey, Nick, it's always a pleasure to have you in
the studio and it's good seeing you.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
Take care.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
Yeah, likewise, thank you.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Absolutely. It is nine to twelve.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
When we come back, I'm going to talk about safe
and affordable housing in the City of Morgantown on Talk
of the Town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four
point five WAJR.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
We are talking about your town.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Well, good Friday morning, clouds and sixty one degrees in
the University City sixth Board Councilman Mark Downs joins us
on the phone.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Mark mentioned there.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Were some ideas or pieces of legislation that he had
in regards to safe and affordable housing at the last
meeting that he's looking forward to introduce and wanted to
give Mark an opportunity to provide us with an update
of that. Mark, good morning, sir. How are you.
Speaker 7 (06:55):
I'm doing well. Mike, how are you?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Hey, I'm doing good.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
And first off, thanks for taking the time to join
us today. I know that being on a radio show
might not be on the top of your list today.
Speaker 7 (07:08):
Yeah, we're headed out of town for a little vacation, Okay, Yeah,
but I'm happy to join you and it's great to
talk to you since I think it's the first time
we've connected since the election. I'm extremely grateful to the
voters of Morgantown so the opportunity to serve and having
(07:28):
a blast, you know, serving my hometown in this new capacity.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Now, I don't want to put a damper on that,
but you know, the most recent point in time, Homeless
count told us that there were one hundred and fifty
people in the community battling homelessness. And then when you
take a look at the available beds from maybe Project
Rainbow up on Hazel's House of Hope up on Scott Avenue.
(07:54):
You know, we're nowhere near one hundred and fifty. And
then you know, we're looking at somewhat of the same
numbers when you take a look at affordable housing, housing
that is available to working families, for example. But you
had mentioned that you had some ideas and we'd like
to hear them.
Speaker 7 (08:14):
Well, Mike, first of all, I didn't do this just
to uh, to work on the easy problems and and
and and tackle the low hanging fruit, right. I did
this because because I believe that that I had some
ideas and uh and and experience that could that could
(08:34):
you know, serve to solve some of the bigger problems
that we've been facing. And and I want to I
want to dig in and do this work. So I
get that out of the way first of all. But yeah,
you're right, you know we've got we've got an issue.
I think, uh, I think that's been well documented by
by the point in time counts and and and you know,
(08:57):
by the by the numbers of beds we have available
to us there there there there's work that we've got
to dig in and do and and uh and and
we're getting ready to do it. I think, uh, you know,
we're two months into this new council about and uh
and uh and about the same with the new city manager.
(09:21):
We've got relationships that are the new new relationships that
are emerging with County Commission. We've got some a joint
meeting coming up with with them that we're trying to
put together. And I'm optimistic that that, you know, together,
we're going to be able to solve some of these things.
(09:41):
You know up at age three, we've got uh the
opportunity to bring to bear some additional uh transitional or
and or emergency beds through uh development and complete of
(10:01):
uh second and third floor uh some some some rooms
on the second and third floor up there. UH. I
know there are different paths to get there. I uh
I think uh, I think that's just critical that we
(10:21):
that we work together to to to finish that, finish
that out and and bring those beds to bear. I think,
you know, by the time if if if we did uh,
if we finished both the second and third floor, I'm
told there there's uh, there's fifty plus beds there.
Speaker 6 (10:39):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Six word councilmen from Morgantown mark downs with us and Mark,
you know, there was a I guess your short time
on council. I've come to find out that you're a
numbers guy. Now that's true, right.
Speaker 7 (10:51):
Yeah, yeah, I liked I like data. I mean, I
think data, data, data should drive our decision making, you know.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
And one thing I wanted you to explain to the
listeners that you brought up during the council meeting was
the fact that the the population in the city of
Morgantown has remained flat for about the last decade. Well,
population in the county has gone up about six percent,
and that has put pressure on housing prices in the
(11:19):
city of Morgantown.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Explain that for us, Yeah, I.
Speaker 7 (11:23):
Mean, that's that's right. The population of the city of
Morgantown's covered around thirty thousand for for you know, a
decade plus and uh and and the population in the
county has gone up six percent or so the uh
(11:46):
and so when you consider that, you know, inside city
limits we've been relatively flat and we've gone up six
percent overall, that means that it's gone up more than
that outside city limits. Uh So uh uh, housing stock
inside the city hasn't hasn't really changed much in the
(12:07):
in the in the last decade, you know here or there,
there there, there have been, there's been a project or two.
But you know, south Park, south Park, green Mont's, Greenmont, Woodburn's, Woodburn,
et cetera. And uh so, so you know when when
you add when you add people that are looking for
(12:28):
places to live, obviously it's gonna it's gonna uh the
old supply and demand uh model is gonna it's gonna
drive prices up.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Sure, sure, and I agree with you with what you say.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Greenmont's, Greenmont, south Park, south Park, a lot of character
housing stock is what it is. However, rich Wood, that's
the development that could seemingly break the entire mold for
the city. I realized that this is maybe more of
a market based developed but are there aspects of what
(13:03):
they're doing in rich Wood that maybe could be pulled
away and used in other parts of the city of
Morgantown in in more of a an affordable fashion.
Speaker 7 (13:16):
And absolutely, and that's why and that's why the project,
that's why Eastern Village and in Richwood is so exciting.
It's it's a project that is uh, it has has
the potential, it's it's the way it's come together is
potentially a model for us to follow elsewhere. You know,
(13:38):
it's not it's not like we don't have room for
infill development. Uh. Now, you know up there we've we've
we've demolished some some some dilapidated housing and and and
you know there's a there was a good job done
to to put together the land to do that. But
you know, we're looking at or Greenmont is potentially a
(14:01):
project an area for for another project like that. So
you know there that's uh, that's it's it gives us
optimism for the future.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Sure. Now we're looking ahead.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Mark marked down six Ward representative from the City of
Morgantown's with us when we get ahead maybe to a
Committee of the whole meeting in the future. We take
a look at an agenda and there's maybe an affordable
housing item on it that was proposed by you What
might that look like?
Speaker 7 (14:35):
Well, you know that's I think time's gonna tell I
think you know, I'm there. There are different models that
could be followed. There could be you know, mandated minimums
there there there there could be it could be it
could be all one hundred percent affordable. If we're working
(15:00):
and with someone like the Fairmont Morgantown Housing Authority. I
think it just depends on where it is and and
what it is, you know, I think it's it's it's
it's hard to say specifically. There are there are a
bunch of different models. I mean there there there are
(15:20):
cooperative models that you know, if if if we came
across an opportunity to acquire a piece of land, that
where we could look to you know, establish use the
land reuse and preservation uh uh commission to uh to
(15:42):
establish a cooperative or something like that. There there, We've
got a huge amount of alternatives. We just have to
be willing to dig in and work on it and
get creative and and uh and and put us put
solutions forward absolutely.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
And then mark the last thing I've got for you.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
In just a slightly off topic, but in that meeting
on Tuesday night, there was a there was a call
from the public to maybe look at repealing the criminal
penalty as part of the camping band that was recently
passed or I guess accepted kept held however you want
to put it by the public.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
What's your particular feeling.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
On that issue.
Speaker 7 (16:25):
You know, I understand it. It's it's it's something that
I'm absolutely willing to look at. I think you know,
I don't. I don't think anything's ever done. I think
you know that, you know, things evolve, and we have
we have anticipated outcomes. But we should always be willing
(16:49):
to revisit what is happening, what is actually happening. I mean,
you said, I'm a numbers guy, right, I think we should.
We should absolutely dig in and look at the data
and look at the outcomes, and and you know, if
it means we have to make some adjustment, we make
some adjustment. But I I I also understand the perspective
(17:10):
that you know, the city voted and uh and and
and we uh we we got an outcome and and
uh and and that's the law of the land right now.
But you know, I think we are a carrying we
are caring and compassionate community and uh and and and
if we are having some undesired outcomes because of the
(17:33):
criminal penalties, then we should look at revisiting that.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
You know, I I hear what you're saying. I guess
uh looking at it.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Not being an elected official, you know that that's kind
of a mandate from the people for you to address
affordable housing and address some of these temporary shelter needs.
I absolutely agree with that, Okay, all right, Yeah, that's
that's kind of how I looked at it as well.
So if you repeal the criminal penalties in the camping band,
(18:02):
what's the point?
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Yeah, yeah, that was okay.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Hey, Mark, really do appreciate your time, and I'd love
to do this again with you. It's been very informative.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Yeah, anytime, Mike, Okay, all right, Hey, enjoy yourself.
Speaker 7 (18:19):
All right, thanks, you have a good day.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Absolutely six word councilmen from the City of Morgantown, Mark
Downs talking about affordable housing and the addition of more
shelter beds at Hazel's House of Hope. Certainly the over
the last three years there's been an incredible evolution with
the addition of Hazel's House of Hope and now seemingly
(18:43):
the anticipated move of Health Right out of downtown Morgantown
up onto the Scott Avenue area coming up next. Got
the opportunity to spend a few minutes with the Morgantown
Police Department.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
I believe we're going to be speaking with Deputy Chief
Chris Reimer.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
They are bearding it up this fall in support to
or in an effort to support efforts to fight pediatric cancer.
We're going to talk with Chris about that might be
some ways that you can help with that effort. They're
raising money for a particular foundation. We'll get that information
from Chris. And then also would like to talk to
(19:25):
Chris about the possibility of some increased patrols around the city.
Those patrols possibly increase downtown and other areas. We'll pose
that question to the Deputy chief when we address him.
Coming up right after the Metro News break.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Join the conversation at one eight seven six. This is
the talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Well, good Friday morning.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
It is a nine to thirty five clouds, sixty five
degrees today.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
A Metro new Zaki Weather says those clouds are going
to hang around.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Eventually we'll get some sunshine, but not before it gets
pretty windy, some gusts as high as twenty two miles
per hour at high temperature of eighty three degrees. Today
in studio, we've got Deputy Chief Chris Reimer with the
Morgantown Police Department. Hey, good morning, Chief, how are you.
Speaker 6 (20:30):
Good morning, mister Nolting.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Well, it's a pleasure to have you on board. It's
a pleasure to have you on board, Chris.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
I guess we wanted to talk with you about a
couple of topics today, and if we could, let's start
with the annual Bearded Up campaign, because there are some changes.
Speaker 6 (20:48):
This year, there have been so the Bearded Up campaign
was an initiative that Chief Powell approved. It is I
think it's a net a really neat program. It is.
Bearded Up is actually a piece of the Cure Starts Now.
(21:08):
The Cure Starts Now is a fundraiser for childhood cancer
and across the country, police departments are trying to do
what they can to not only spread the message, but
to help to help generate that interest, to help with
(21:30):
with funding for research and treatment of children suffering from cancer.
And and so here in Morgantown we ask our officers
to make a contribution to the Cure Starts Now, which
is the public can actually access it as well and
(21:54):
contribute at bearded up dot org. And we've already seen
in excess of one thousand dollars and it just kicked
off yesterday.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
You know, cancer is a bad thing, but pediatric cancer,
you know, you could use the word sucks.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
And I will on the air, but I'm telling you
right now that doesn't even do it justice.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
It does not. It's heartbreaking and absolutely And in addition
to the Bearded Up campaign last year, we also participated
in October's breast cancer Awareness. The Morgantown Police Department's shoulder
patch is gold on a blue on a blue field,
and for breast cancer awareness we change our patch to pink.
(22:34):
And I should probably point out that it's not at
taxpayer expenses. The chief actually funded that personally, and the
officers pay to or remove the old patch and put
the pink patch on one shirt, and so they can
help raise awareness for breast cancer as well.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Any idea how many officers will participate?
Speaker 6 (22:55):
Oh, that's hard to say. It's a voluntary project or program,
and we're encouraging it. I think it based on what
I what I saw over over the previous years, I
think it'll be well received and and we'll get the
lion's share of officers participating.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Okay, what if somebody in the public said I can
grow a better beard than that.
Speaker 6 (23:16):
Cop can challenge accepted.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Challenge accepted.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Okay, anything in the name of finding a cure for
pediatric cancer.
Speaker 6 (23:25):
I think. Right. So obviously it's a it's a little
bit of fun for the cops. It's it's, you know,
one of those things that helps us, I think, engage
with the public as well because it makes for great conversation.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Sure, and of course, all these proceeds are directed to
the Cure Starts Now Foundation, which funds pediatric cancer research.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
How long will you be doing this.
Speaker 6 (23:52):
We're planning on doing it through the end of December.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Okay, all right, So maybe some of the older members
of the force might be able to maybe repurpose that.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
And be a center or something.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Absolutely, would that would that be within regulations? Can you
have a can you have a Santa beard and be
a cop?
Speaker 6 (24:10):
Well, we we like to encourage officers to keep their
beards neat, trim, professional looking. I think some might might
try and push that boundary a little bit. Well, we'll sure.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Hey, I'm looking at a picture of Chief Pal looks
to me like if he'd let that go, he could
be the Santa Claus.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
Oh. Absolutely, Chief Chief Power wears wears a beard better
better than most. I actually brought along a photograph to
share with your listeners.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Perfect, yeah, check that out and if you think we're kidding,
just go to morgantownwv dot gov, go to press releases,
and his mug is right there at the bottom of
that press release.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
You can't miss it. So, Deputy Chief Reamer is not
steering you a foul, that's for sure.
Speaker 6 (24:59):
He's a good sport.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Okay, Chief, if it's okay with you, I'd like to
take a real quick break and then when we come
back talk about the Safe Streets initiative.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Would that be all right?
Speaker 6 (25:11):
Absolutely? Okay?
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Perfect sixty five and clouds in Morgantown.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
We'll be back after this on AM fourteen forty FM
one oh four point five WAJR.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
Now back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Good Friday morning.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
It is nine forty four some clouds, sixty five degrees
in the University City. The Morgantown Police Department, Deputy Chief
Chris Reimer spending some time with us this morning. We
certainly thank you for being here, Chris, Thank you very much.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
I'm happy to be here. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Perfect.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Now, Chris, let's talk a little bit about the Safe
Streets program that started as a pilot program.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I'll let you take it from there.
Speaker 6 (26:12):
It did, Chief Powell initiated. It was a safe street
initiative that Chief Powell created last year as a pilot
project to see how it would work for us. It
is an opportunity for the police department to utilize some
overtime funds to strategically place limited resources where they will
(26:34):
do the most good and so we're able to move
those around. The original goal of safe Streets was twofold.
The first piece of it was a visibility aspect. We
wanted officers to be out and about on foot patrol
in our downtown, being seen, helping individuals that they may encounter,
(26:59):
and just interacting with the public. The second piece of
it was a quality of life piece. We wanted to
make sure that we were addressing those things that were
a squeak you will for us if it was if
it was litter, if it was just nuisance type activities.
So that was the original initiative. The city manager, Manager Miller,
(27:27):
graciously allowed us to continue that program this year and
it has been wildly successful. Again going forward, we are
able to augment the street strength the officers that are
on regular patrol with additional officers to put them again
(27:47):
based on what's going on downtown strategically to help address
the needs for everyone in the city.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Can you give us an idea of what those officers
that are working over time see on those patrols well.
Speaker 6 (28:01):
The so again again it's that that that too too
prong aspect, the visibility and the and the quality of
life aspect. So the officers are encountering engaging with people,
especially we we've kind of we bounce them around a
little bit, so we we change it up sometimes there
during the daytime, sometimes in the evening as as I'm
(28:25):
sure everyone in the greater Morgantown area is a where
in the evening times, especially on the weekends, UH, downtown
gets jumping. There's a there's a lot of people that
that want to come down and enjoy everything that that
downtown has to offer, the restaurants and the and the
bars and the and the store shops and stores and
and and so when we see that influx, we need
(28:46):
to have officers down there to try and manage the
vehicular traffic, the pedestrian traffic, uh, just to make sure
everyone's safe. So what they're seeing is and what I'm
seeing personally when I'm downtown is a vibrant downtown. I'm
seeing people taking time out of their day to really
truly enjoy everything that Morgantown has to offer, and boy,
(29:08):
does it have a lot to offer.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Certainly does.
Speaker 6 (29:11):
Now.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
Along with a lot to offer, there are also a
lot of.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Folks that might bring things to downtown, as we've seen
in the past, that don't necessarily promote a good experience
for everybody that comes downtown. I'm talking specifically about drug activity.
How much drug activity is downtown.
Speaker 6 (29:31):
Well, the drug activity is a problem. It's I'm going
to say, it's been a problem for decades, not only
in Morgantown but across the country. And so do we
experience that here, Yes, absolutely we do. There is a
relatively small percentage of the population that suffers from substance
use disorder, and obviously there is a dark cottage industry
(29:58):
that that caters to those individuals. Praise on those individuals
as if you will. The police Department works very hard
to root that out, to identify individuals that may be
downtown engaged in unlawful activity, or in the city in
general engaged in unlawful activity, and we partner with not
(30:22):
only the agencies around us, but some federal agencies specifically
the FBI, the de A. We have a task force
that that specifically targets that that higher mid level drug
activity that may be occurring to try and interrupt it
before it reaches the streets. So it's there. We do
(30:46):
our best to try and address it. But I it's
a it's a societal problem that it's just going to
take a holistic approach.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
You know, when you take a look at downtown Morgantown,
the mural that just and in on South High Street,
some of the improvements you've got, the street scape at
Walnut Street that's coming together, and then talk of a
pocket park, the Bartlett House building has come down.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
There are a lot of great things to talk about.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
When you guys come down and patrol these areas that
you know have been problems in the past, where do
you estimate that those people go.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
The I mean, I guess let me just say it
like this. If you have.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
People that were coming down to go to the Bartlet
House maybe coming down to go to Mylon Pushcart Health
right now there are fewer places for people like that
to be able to congregate, and you come down with
extra patrols, would it be maybe logical to think that
(31:54):
they would go to Scott Avenue where some of those
services are well.
Speaker 6 (32:00):
That would be my hope that these individuals that are
in need of social services would go to Scott Avenue,
would go to Hazel's House of Hope, because that is
the primary place where services are going to be made
available to them. Not that there aren't other services around
(32:21):
the city. There are. I think that as so, we
have a special unit, a special services unit that specifically
works in the downtown area, and those officers, along with
our social worker Kelly Rice, are laser focused on helping
(32:41):
to direct people to services and connect them with services,
and sometimes that is Hazel's House of Hope sometimes, So
it depends what their needs are. If it's a shelter need,
obviously we want to make sure we find them a shelter.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
And I definitely want to recognize Kelly because she was
recognized by the Municipal League of Cities. But before we do, UH,
please give me your personality profile if you will, of
this freshman class.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
Are they are they good? Are they misbehaving? Are they normal?
Speaker 7 (33:19):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (33:19):
What's your assessment?
Speaker 6 (33:21):
I'm gonna say they're normal. I I was really excited
to see uh with move in and and the university
kind of coming back, you know, coming back to full
steam and and and and seeing the young people out
and about. And uh, I think it's a rite of
passage when you when you get to to go away
(33:41):
to college and and it's this unforgettable experience in your
life and it's it's exciting for me. I'm sure it's
exciting for them. And and so far very well behaved.
Absolutely kudos to w v U and their student body
because they contribute to the society.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
In the world of law enforcement, Kelly has got to
be a unicorn here in the city.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Here in the state of West Virginia.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
I think there are only maybe one other social worker
at another police department.
Speaker 6 (34:09):
She was recognized, she was recognized, she received award, an
award from the Municipal League. Kelly Rice is priceless. She
does more for connecting people with with with services that
they need and being that conduit between like West Virginia
Peers and sober Living and the individuals that are in crisis,
(34:31):
the people suffering from perhaps mental illness or addiction issues
that and she's making those connections every day. And I
say it all the time, Kelly Rice saves lives.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
And you know what I've I've heard that not only
from nonprofits and guys that wear badges like you, but
I've also heard that from the people that she works with,
the people that need the help right now.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
I've heard them say the same thing, right.
Speaker 6 (35:00):
Kelly is, She's dedicated, she's compassionate. I think sometimes it
really takes a toll on her personally. We're really really
fortunate and lucky to have her, not just the police department,
but the community.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
I couldn't agree with you more. And I you know,
of course we all look at police and firement and
we all understand, or we try to understand, the personal
toll that your job takes. But I think until you
put that vest on and pin a badge on it,
there's no real way that you can you can know
(35:34):
what that is.
Speaker 6 (35:35):
Yeah, it's a it's a calling, for sure. I believe
that people that enter law enforcement are doing it for,
at least in part altruistic reasons. I don't I don't
think there's a lot of people that become a police
officer for the paycheck. I think there is much more
to it. A sense of duty, a sense of contribution,
(35:59):
a sense of.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Chris, thank you, for coming in, Yes, sir, absolutely right
now sixty five plenty of clouds in the University City.
We're coming back to wrap things up after this on
AM fourteen forty f M one oh four point five W. A.
Speaker 6 (36:13):
J R.
Now this is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown
to Klucksburg. If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call
the show toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty
five eight two five five. Now Here is your host
for the Talk of the Town, Mike Nolting.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Well, good Friday morning, Welcome to the program.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
It is nine oh six, you know, welcome to Talk
of the Town. We're focused on you and your family.
I'm Mike Nolting and on X I'm your news guy.
Look me up there now. Kyle Wiggs is our producer.
Eight hundred seven six five eight two five five and
the text line is three zero four talk three zero four,
Line up four Today six ward. Representative from the City
(00:53):
of Morgantown, Mark Downs joins us at nine point fifteen.
We're going to talk about his proposals for safe and
affordable housing in the Morgantown area. Downs mentioned that during
the last meeting that he has some proposals ready to go.
We're going to find out what they are. Morgantown Police
Department comes in at nine point thirty. Are going to
tell us about their Bearded Up campaign to raise awareness
(01:15):
for pediatric cancer and we'll take a look at some
headlines coming up in just a little bit. Got Nick
from z Bart here in Morgantown, actually, z Bart of Morgantown.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You'll find them just off I.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Sixty eight, Exit seven at the Fort Pierpont Plaza.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Hey, good morning, Nick. How are you?
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I'm good?
Speaker 5 (01:34):
Are you?
Speaker 6 (01:35):
Hey?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I'm doing great.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Let's see, let's talk a little bit about rust proofing
as we head into the season where uh, you know
we're gonna be running on sault.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean it's it's probably coming quicker than then,
we hope. But it's important, especially this time of year
to think about, you know, protecting the under body of
your vehicle front, you know, from rust and corrosion. That's
very you know, apparent here in Morgantown in West Virginia
as a whole. And we have a new wax formula
as well, so it's performing a little better for the
(02:05):
older vehicles that might have a little bit of surface
rust already.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Okay, Now, of course, z Bard of Morgantown is our
fifty Friday deal today.
Speaker 6 (02:15):
You get one.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Hundred dollars worth of services for just fifty bucks, so
you can go out to WAJ r dot com and
get more information about that. Now, Uh, what about ceramic
and his Z gloss Cody.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
Yeah, So, our our Z gloss as we call it,
is our ceramic coating, you know, triples the strength of
your pain helps keep it nice and clean. You never
have to wax your vehicle, you know, and I think it's,
you know, truly probably the best product out there to
keep your writhe you know, standing tall.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Now that particular formula is different from your.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
Competitors, correct, Yeah, we we're a three layer system right
off the bat. We're not just a top coat. So
like I always kind of think when you're when you're
like painting your walls in your home, you like you
use a primer, you know, and then you put your
pain just helps you know, thinking it up and gets
a better quality job. That's kind of the same way
with our code. And we have a wash primer and
attack primer and then you get the ceramics. So you're
getting a lot of protection on your vehicle.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Hey, you know, Nick, when it comes to rustproofing, I
don't mean to keep jumping around, but you know there
are people with older vehicles that might not think that
they could effectively rustproof their vehicles, but you actually have
a new way to approach that.
Speaker 6 (03:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
Absolutely, Like I said, we just have that new wax
formula that's just better for you know, older vehicles. It's
a little bit thinner, but you know, it has an
active kind of ingredient that has a cap capillary action,
so it kind of seeps into those nooks and crannies
a little better on that older vehicle where there might
be some rust starting. And it's just we've had great results.
We've you know, actually spent about two years developing it,
(03:46):
so it's it's performing really well.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Z Bart of Morgantown is just off I sixty eight
Exit seven to Fort Pier Punk Plaza. You can get
more details at is z bart dot com. So if
I'm driving around, Nick, can I just pull up and say, Hey,
I'm ready for a rust proofing.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Let's go.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
Uh, well, we're spraying several a day. Yeah, but you
know we always say we probably get you in within
a week or so, you know, so I think there,
so we have still plenty of time here to get
it done before the snow really starts flying. But you
can certainly stop in any time and talk to us
if you're interested. Me, no appointment needed, to just kind
of get some information and see how we can protect
your ride.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
You know, I bring that up because being busy is
a great thing for a couple of reasons. Number one,
it means people have nice cars that want to protect
and money to spend.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
And you know, just like a.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Restaurant, you wouldn't want to go to a restaurant with
an empty parking lot might not be good.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
You're busy, you must be doing a good job.
Speaker 5 (04:40):
Yeah, we we certainly try to. But yeah, we're definitely uh,
you know, appreciative of the you know, the community around
us if they support us greatly, and uh, you know,
we uh we we stay stay very very busy.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Once again, this is the fifty percent Friday deal today.
You can go out to w A j R. And
take advantage of that. Get one hundred dollars worth of
services for just fifty dollars. Give us your phone number.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
Nick, Yeah, it's uh three or four three two two
five three six one?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Okay, perfect.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Now let's see there are a couple of other services.
I'm sure you can get more information at ZBar dot com.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Uh, but what would you like to close out with, Nick?
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (05:26):
Probably the Probably the biggest thing that's on our on
our radar, on our focus right now is we're all
opening a new store in the South Hills and Cannonsburg there,
so these these vouchers are also good there. We should
be opened up by the end of September here. So
if Morgantown isn't uh, if you're you know, you're listening,
you might not be local to Morgantown, you can, you know,
use it up there as well.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Okay, what's your address up there?
Speaker 5 (05:48):
It's two five, nine to nine Washington Road, right right
in Cannonsburg.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Okay, perfect.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Hey, Nick, it's always a pleasure to have you in
the studio and it's good seeing you.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
Take care.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
Yeah, likewise, thank you.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Absolutely. It is nine to twelve.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
When we come back, I'm going to talk about safe
and affordable housing in the City of Morgantown on Talk
of the Town AM fourteen forty FM one oh four
point five WAJR.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
We are talking about your town.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Well, good Friday morning, clouds and sixty one degrees in
the University City sixth Board Councilman Mark Downs joins us
on the phone.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Mark mentioned there.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Were some ideas or pieces of legislation that he had
in regards to safe and affordable housing at the last
meeting that he's looking forward to introduce and wanted to
give Mark an opportunity to provide us with an update
of that. Mark, good morning, sir. How are you.
Speaker 7 (06:55):
I'm doing well. Mike, how are you?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Hey, I'm doing good.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
And first off, thanks for taking the time to join
us today. I know that being on a radio show
might not be on the top of your list today.
Speaker 7 (07:08):
Yeah, we're headed out of town for a little vacation, Okay, Yeah,
but I'm happy to join you and it's great to
talk to you since I think it's the first time
we've connected since the election. I'm extremely grateful to the
voters of Morgantown so the opportunity to serve and having
(07:28):
a blast, you know, serving my hometown in this new capacity.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Now, I don't want to put a damper on that,
but you know, the most recent point in time, Homeless
count told us that there were one hundred and fifty
people in the community battling homelessness. And then when you
take a look at the available beds from maybe Project
Rainbow up on Hazel's House of Hope up on Scott Avenue.
(07:54):
You know, we're nowhere near one hundred and fifty. And
then you know, we're looking at somewhat of the same
numbers when you take a look at affordable housing, housing
that is available to working families, for example. But you
had mentioned that you had some ideas and we'd like
to hear them.
Speaker 7 (08:14):
Well, Mike, first of all, I didn't do this just
to uh, to work on the easy problems and and
and and tackle the low hanging fruit, right. I did
this because because I believe that that I had some
ideas and uh and and experience that could that could
(08:34):
you know, serve to solve some of the bigger problems
that we've been facing. And and I want to I
want to dig in and do this work. So I
get that out of the way first of all. But yeah,
you're right, you know we've got we've got an issue.
I think, uh, I think that's been well documented by
by the point in time counts and and and you know,
(08:57):
by the by the numbers of beds we have available
to us there there there there's work that we've got
to dig in and do and and uh and and
we're getting ready to do it. I think, uh, you know,
we're two months into this new council about and uh
and uh and about the same with the new city manager.
(09:21):
We've got relationships that are the new new relationships that
are emerging with County Commission. We've got some a joint
meeting coming up with with them that we're trying to
put together. And I'm optimistic that that, you know, together,
we're going to be able to solve some of these things.
(09:41):
You know up at age three, we've got uh the
opportunity to bring to bear some additional uh transitional or
and or emergency beds through uh development and complete of
(10:01):
uh second and third floor uh some some some rooms
on the second and third floor up there. UH. I
know there are different paths to get there. I uh
I think uh, I think that's just critical that we
(10:21):
that we work together to to to finish that, finish
that out and and bring those beds to bear. I think,
you know, by the time if if if we did uh,
if we finished both the second and third floor, I'm
told there there's uh, there's fifty plus beds there.
Speaker 6 (10:39):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Six word councilmen from Morgantown mark downs with us and Mark,
you know, there was a I guess your short time
on council. I've come to find out that you're a
numbers guy. Now that's true, right.
Speaker 7 (10:51):
Yeah, yeah, I liked I like data. I mean, I
think data, data, data should drive our decision making, you know.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
And one thing I wanted you to explain to the
listeners that you brought up during the council meeting was
the fact that the the population in the city of
Morgantown has remained flat for about the last decade. Well,
population in the county has gone up about six percent,
and that has put pressure on housing prices in the
(11:19):
city of Morgantown.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Explain that for us, Yeah, I.
Speaker 7 (11:23):
Mean, that's that's right. The population of the city of
Morgantown's covered around thirty thousand for for you know, a
decade plus and uh and and the population in the
county has gone up six percent or so the uh
(11:46):
and so when you consider that, you know, inside city
limits we've been relatively flat and we've gone up six
percent overall, that means that it's gone up more than
that outside city limits. Uh So uh uh, housing stock
inside the city hasn't hasn't really changed much in the
(12:07):
in the in the last decade, you know here or there,
there there, there have been, there's been a project or two.
But you know, south Park, south Park, green Mont's, Greenmont, Woodburn's, Woodburn,
et cetera. And uh so, so you know when when
you add when you add people that are looking for
(12:28):
places to live, obviously it's gonna it's gonna uh the
old supply and demand uh model is gonna it's gonna
drive prices up.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Sure, sure, and I agree with you with what you say.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Greenmont's, Greenmont, south Park, south Park, a lot of character
housing stock is what it is. However, rich Wood, that's
the development that could seemingly break the entire mold for
the city. I realized that this is maybe more of
a market based developed but are there aspects of what
(13:03):
they're doing in rich Wood that maybe could be pulled
away and used in other parts of the city of
Morgantown in in more of a an affordable fashion.
Speaker 7 (13:16):
And absolutely, and that's why and that's why the project,
that's why Eastern Village and in Richwood is so exciting.
It's it's a project that is uh, it has has
the potential, it's it's the way it's come together is
potentially a model for us to follow elsewhere. You know,
(13:38):
it's not it's not like we don't have room for
infill development. Uh. Now, you know up there we've we've
we've demolished some some some dilapidated housing and and and
you know there's a there was a good job done
to to put together the land to do that. But
you know, we're looking at or Greenmont is potentially a
(14:01):
project an area for for another project like that. So
you know there that's uh, that's it's it gives us
optimism for the future.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Sure. Now we're looking ahead.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Mark marked down six Ward representative from the City of
Morgantown's with us when we get ahead maybe to a
Committee of the whole meeting in the future. We take
a look at an agenda and there's maybe an affordable
housing item on it that was proposed by you What
might that look like?
Speaker 7 (14:35):
Well, you know that's I think time's gonna tell I
think you know, I'm there. There are different models that
could be followed. There could be you know, mandated minimums
there there there there could be it could be it
could be all one hundred percent affordable. If we're working
(15:00):
and with someone like the Fairmont Morgantown Housing Authority. I
think it just depends on where it is and and
what it is, you know, I think it's it's it's
it's hard to say specifically. There are there are a
bunch of different models. I mean there there there are
(15:20):
cooperative models that you know, if if if we came
across an opportunity to acquire a piece of land, that
where we could look to you know, establish use the
land reuse and preservation uh uh commission to uh to
(15:42):
establish a cooperative or something like that. There there, We've
got a huge amount of alternatives. We just have to
be willing to dig in and work on it and
get creative and and uh and and put us put
solutions forward absolutely.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
And then mark the last thing I've got for you.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
In just a slightly off topic, but in that meeting
on Tuesday night, there was a there was a call
from the public to maybe look at repealing the criminal
penalty as part of the camping band that was recently
passed or I guess accepted kept held however you want
to put it by the public.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
What's your particular feeling.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
On that issue.
Speaker 7 (16:25):
You know, I understand it. It's it's it's something that
I'm absolutely willing to look at. I think you know,
I don't. I don't think anything's ever done. I think
you know that, you know, things evolve, and we have
we have anticipated outcomes. But we should always be willing
(16:49):
to revisit what is happening, what is actually happening. I mean,
you said, I'm a numbers guy, right, I think we should.
We should absolutely dig in and look at the data
and look at the outcomes, and and you know, if
it means we have to make some adjustment, we make
some adjustment. But I I I also understand the perspective
(17:10):
that you know, the city voted and uh and and
and we uh we we got an outcome and and
uh and and that's the law of the land right now.
But you know, I think we are a carrying we
are caring and compassionate community and uh and and and
if we are having some undesired outcomes because of the
(17:33):
criminal penalties, then we should look at revisiting that.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
You know, I I hear what you're saying. I guess
uh looking at it.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Not being an elected official, you know that that's kind
of a mandate from the people for you to address
affordable housing and address some of these temporary shelter needs.
I absolutely agree with that, Okay, all right, Yeah, that's
that's kind of how I looked at it as well.
So if you repeal the criminal penalties in the camping band,
(18:02):
what's the point?
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Yeah, yeah, that was okay.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Hey, Mark, really do appreciate your time, and I'd love
to do this again with you. It's been very informative.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Yeah, anytime, Mike, Okay, all right, Hey, enjoy yourself.
Speaker 7 (18:19):
All right, thanks, you have a good day.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Absolutely six word councilmen from the City of Morgantown, Mark
Downs talking about affordable housing and the addition of more
shelter beds at Hazel's House of Hope. Certainly the over
the last three years there's been an incredible evolution with
the addition of Hazel's House of Hope and now seemingly
(18:43):
the anticipated move of Health Right out of downtown Morgantown
up onto the Scott Avenue area coming up next. Got
the opportunity to spend a few minutes with the Morgantown
Police Department.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
I believe we're going to be speaking with Deputy Chief
Chris Reimer.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
They are bearding it up this fall in support to
or in an effort to support efforts to fight pediatric cancer.
We're going to talk with Chris about that might be
some ways that you can help with that effort. They're
raising money for a particular foundation. We'll get that information
from Chris. And then also would like to talk to
(19:25):
Chris about the possibility of some increased patrols around the city.
Those patrols possibly increase downtown and other areas. We'll pose
that question to the Deputy chief when we address him.
Coming up right after the Metro News break.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Join the conversation at one eight seven six. This is
the talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Well, good Friday morning.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
It is a nine to thirty five clouds, sixty five
degrees today.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
A Metro new Zaki Weather says those clouds are going
to hang around.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Eventually we'll get some sunshine, but not before it gets
pretty windy, some gusts as high as twenty two miles
per hour at high temperature of eighty three degrees. Today
in studio, we've got Deputy Chief Chris Reimer with the
Morgantown Police Department. Hey, good morning, Chief, how are you.
Speaker 6 (20:30):
Good morning, mister Nolting.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Well, it's a pleasure to have you on board. It's
a pleasure to have you on board, Chris.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
I guess we wanted to talk with you about a
couple of topics today, and if we could, let's start
with the annual Bearded Up campaign, because there are some changes.
Speaker 6 (20:48):
This year, there have been so the Bearded Up campaign
was an initiative that Chief Powell approved. It is I
think it's a net a really neat program. It is.
Bearded Up is actually a piece of the Cure Starts Now.
(21:08):
The Cure Starts Now is a fundraiser for childhood cancer
and across the country, police departments are trying to do
what they can to not only spread the message, but
to help to help generate that interest, to help with
(21:30):
with funding for research and treatment of children suffering from cancer.
And and so here in Morgantown we ask our officers
to make a contribution to the Cure Starts Now, which
is the public can actually access it as well and
(21:54):
contribute at bearded up dot org. And we've already seen
in excess of one thousand dollars and it just kicked
off yesterday.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
You know, cancer is a bad thing, but pediatric cancer,
you know, you could use the word sucks.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
And I will on the air, but I'm telling you
right now that doesn't even do it justice.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
It does not. It's heartbreaking and absolutely And in addition
to the Bearded Up campaign last year, we also participated
in October's breast cancer Awareness. The Morgantown Police Department's shoulder
patch is gold on a blue on a blue field,
and for breast cancer awareness we change our patch to pink.
(22:34):
And I should probably point out that it's not at
taxpayer expenses. The chief actually funded that personally, and the
officers pay to or remove the old patch and put
the pink patch on one shirt, and so they can
help raise awareness for breast cancer as well.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Any idea how many officers will participate?
Speaker 6 (22:55):
Oh, that's hard to say. It's a voluntary project or program,
and we're encouraging it. I think it based on what
I what I saw over over the previous years, I
think it'll be well received and and we'll get the
lion's share of officers participating.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Okay, what if somebody in the public said I can
grow a better beard than that.
Speaker 6 (23:16):
Cop can challenge accepted.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Challenge accepted.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Okay, anything in the name of finding a cure for
pediatric cancer.
Speaker 6 (23:25):
I think. Right. So obviously it's a it's a little
bit of fun for the cops. It's it's, you know,
one of those things that helps us, I think, engage
with the public as well because it makes for great conversation.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Sure, and of course, all these proceeds are directed to
the Cure Starts Now Foundation, which funds pediatric cancer research.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
How long will you be doing this.
Speaker 6 (23:52):
We're planning on doing it through the end of December.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Okay, all right, So maybe some of the older members
of the force might be able to maybe repurpose that.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
And be a center or something.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Absolutely, would that would that be within regulations? Can you
have a can you have a Santa beard and be
a cop?
Speaker 6 (24:10):
Well, we we like to encourage officers to keep their
beards neat, trim, professional looking. I think some might might
try and push that boundary a little bit. Well, we'll sure.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Hey, I'm looking at a picture of Chief Pal looks
to me like if he'd let that go, he could
be the Santa Claus.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
Oh. Absolutely, Chief Chief Power wears wears a beard better
better than most. I actually brought along a photograph to
share with your listeners.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Perfect, yeah, check that out and if you think we're kidding,
just go to morgantownwv dot gov, go to press releases,
and his mug is right there at the bottom of
that press release.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
You can't miss it. So, Deputy Chief Reamer is not
steering you a foul, that's for sure.
Speaker 6 (24:59):
He's a good sport.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Okay, Chief, if it's okay with you, I'd like to
take a real quick break and then when we come
back talk about the Safe Streets initiative.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Would that be all right?
Speaker 6 (25:11):
Absolutely? Okay?
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Perfect sixty five and clouds in Morgantown.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
We'll be back after this on AM fourteen forty FM
one oh four point five WAJR.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
Now back to the talk of the town.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Good Friday morning.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
It is nine forty four some clouds, sixty five degrees
in the University City. The Morgantown Police Department, Deputy Chief
Chris Reimer spending some time with us this morning. We
certainly thank you for being here, Chris, Thank you very much.
Speaker 6 (26:00):
I'm happy to be here. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Perfect.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Now, Chris, let's talk a little bit about the Safe
Streets program that started as a pilot program.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I'll let you take it from there.
Speaker 6 (26:12):
It did, Chief Powell initiated. It was a safe street
initiative that Chief Powell created last year as a pilot
project to see how it would work for us. It
is an opportunity for the police department to utilize some
overtime funds to strategically place limited resources where they will
(26:34):
do the most good and so we're able to move
those around. The original goal of safe Streets was twofold.
The first piece of it was a visibility aspect. We
wanted officers to be out and about on foot patrol
in our downtown, being seen, helping individuals that they may encounter,
(26:59):
and just interacting with the public. The second piece of
it was a quality of life piece. We wanted to
make sure that we were addressing those things that were
a squeak you will for us if it was if
it was litter, if it was just nuisance type activities.
So that was the original initiative. The city manager, Manager Miller,
(27:27):
graciously allowed us to continue that program this year and
it has been wildly successful. Again going forward, we are
able to augment the street strength the officers that are
on regular patrol with additional officers to put them again
(27:47):
based on what's going on downtown strategically to help address
the needs for everyone in the city.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Can you give us an idea of what those officers
that are working over time see on those patrols well.
Speaker 6 (28:01):
The so again again it's that that that too too
prong aspect, the visibility and the and the quality of
life aspect. So the officers are encountering engaging with people,
especially we we've kind of we bounce them around a
little bit, so we we change it up sometimes there
during the daytime, sometimes in the evening as as I'm
(28:25):
sure everyone in the greater Morgantown area is a where
in the evening times, especially on the weekends, UH, downtown
gets jumping. There's a there's a lot of people that
that want to come down and enjoy everything that that
downtown has to offer, the restaurants and the and the
bars and the and the store shops and stores and
and and so when we see that influx, we need
(28:46):
to have officers down there to try and manage the
vehicular traffic, the pedestrian traffic, uh, just to make sure
everyone's safe. So what they're seeing is and what I'm
seeing personally when I'm downtown is a vibrant downtown. I'm
seeing people taking time out of their day to really
truly enjoy everything that Morgantown has to offer, and boy,
(29:08):
does it have a lot to offer.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Certainly does.
Speaker 6 (29:11):
Now.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
Along with a lot to offer, there are also a
lot of.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Folks that might bring things to downtown, as we've seen
in the past, that don't necessarily promote a good experience
for everybody that comes downtown. I'm talking specifically about drug activity.
How much drug activity is downtown.
Speaker 6 (29:31):
Well, the drug activity is a problem. It's I'm going
to say, it's been a problem for decades, not only
in Morgantown but across the country. And so do we
experience that here, Yes, absolutely we do. There is a
relatively small percentage of the population that suffers from substance
use disorder, and obviously there is a dark cottage industry
(29:58):
that that caters to those individuals. Praise on those individuals
as if you will. The police Department works very hard
to root that out, to identify individuals that may be
downtown engaged in unlawful activity, or in the city in
general engaged in unlawful activity, and we partner with not
(30:22):
only the agencies around us, but some federal agencies specifically
the FBI, the de A. We have a task force
that that specifically targets that that higher mid level drug
activity that may be occurring to try and interrupt it
before it reaches the streets. So it's there. We do
(30:46):
our best to try and address it. But I it's
a it's a societal problem that it's just going to
take a holistic approach.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
You know, when you take a look at downtown Morgantown,
the mural that just and in on South High Street,
some of the improvements you've got, the street scape at
Walnut Street that's coming together, and then talk of a
pocket park, the Bartlett House building has come down.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
There are a lot of great things to talk about.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
When you guys come down and patrol these areas that
you know have been problems in the past, where do
you estimate that those people go.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
The I mean, I guess let me just say it
like this. If you have.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
People that were coming down to go to the Bartlet
House maybe coming down to go to Mylon Pushcart Health
right now there are fewer places for people like that
to be able to congregate, and you come down with
extra patrols, would it be maybe logical to think that
(31:54):
they would go to Scott Avenue where some of those
services are well.
Speaker 6 (32:00):
That would be my hope that these individuals that are
in need of social services would go to Scott Avenue,
would go to Hazel's House of Hope, because that is
the primary place where services are going to be made
available to them. Not that there aren't other services around
(32:21):
the city. There are. I think that as so, we
have a special unit, a special services unit that specifically
works in the downtown area, and those officers, along with
our social worker Kelly Rice, are laser focused on helping
(32:41):
to direct people to services and connect them with services,
and sometimes that is Hazel's House of Hope sometimes, So
it depends what their needs are. If it's a shelter need,
obviously we want to make sure we find them a shelter.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
And I definitely want to recognize Kelly because she was
recognized by the Municipal League of Cities. But before we do, UH,
please give me your personality profile if you will, of
this freshman class.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
Are they are they good? Are they misbehaving? Are they normal?
Speaker 7 (33:19):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (33:19):
What's your assessment?
Speaker 6 (33:21):
I'm gonna say they're normal. I I was really excited
to see uh with move in and and the university
kind of coming back, you know, coming back to full
steam and and and and seeing the young people out
and about. And uh, I think it's a rite of
passage when you when you get to to go away
(33:41):
to college and and it's this unforgettable experience in your
life and it's it's exciting for me. I'm sure it's
exciting for them. And and so far very well behaved.
Absolutely kudos to w v U and their student body
because they contribute to the society.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
In the world of law enforcement, Kelly has got to
be a unicorn here in the city.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Here in the state of West Virginia.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
I think there are only maybe one other social worker
at another police department.
Speaker 6 (34:09):
She was recognized, she was recognized, she received award, an
award from the Municipal League. Kelly Rice is priceless. She
does more for connecting people with with with services that
they need and being that conduit between like West Virginia
Peers and sober Living and the individuals that are in crisis,
(34:31):
the people suffering from perhaps mental illness or addiction issues
that and she's making those connections every day. And I
say it all the time, Kelly Rice saves lives.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
And you know what I've I've heard that not only
from nonprofits and guys that wear badges like you, but
I've also heard that from the people that she works with,
the people that need the help right now.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
I've heard them say the same thing, right.
Speaker 6 (35:00):
Kelly is, She's dedicated, she's compassionate. I think sometimes it
really takes a toll on her personally. We're really really
fortunate and lucky to have her, not just the police department,
but the community.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
I couldn't agree with you more. And I you know,
of course we all look at police and firement and
we all understand, or we try to understand, the personal
toll that your job takes. But I think until you
put that vest on and pin a badge on it,
there's no real way that you can you can know
(35:34):
what that is.
Speaker 6 (35:35):
Yeah, it's a it's a calling, for sure. I believe
that people that enter law enforcement are doing it for,
at least in part altruistic reasons. I don't I don't
think there's a lot of people that become a police
officer for the paycheck. I think there is much more
to it. A sense of duty, a sense of contribution,
(35:59):
a sense of.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Chris, thank you, for coming in, Yes, sir, absolutely right
now sixty five plenty of clouds in the University City.
We're coming back to wrap things up after this on
AM fourteen forty f M one oh four point five W. A.
Speaker 6 (36:13):
J R.
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