City of Morgantown

Looking for a job as we ring in the New Year? The City of Morgantown is hiring for several positions! Executive Assistant (Fire Department) Accountant Electrical Inspector Event Staff Laborer- Streets Theatre, Lighting and Sound Manager Planner Airport FBO Operations Agent (Full and Part Time) Airport Operations & Facilities Supervisor FBO Operations Manager Municipal Court Judge For more information, such as job descriptions, benefits, and pay, visit our website's job board at https://lnkd.in/eG-wPrPN

Over the holidays Mayor Joe Abu-Ghannam had the privilege of visiting the Salvation Army at Hazels House of Hope in Morgantown to witness the incredible work being done as part of the Angel Tree Toy Drive. After being welcomed by Bill Oldland (who directed traffic for this event), the Grinch himself arrived, inspired by the generosity of the Whos in Whoville, was on hand to help distribute gifts alongside the dedicated volunteer team from PhD Plumbing, led by owner James and his staff. Salvation Army Captain Jane Smith did an outstanding job facilitating the event, supported by Social Worker Ginger Swain. Community members like Jocelyn Oldland and her children pitched in, as did Christina Gerard, who leads Resource Development, and Mikala Golden, the Angel Tree Coordinator. They were able to provide to nearly 700 families between Mon, Marion, Taylor & Preston County. The event was a testament to the power of collective generosity.

Today closes out City Manager, Kim Haws time with the City of Morgantown, as he prepares to start his time in a well-earned retirement. Over Kim’s 40 year career, he has served in public service roles for the last 24 years, with the last 4 being here at the City of Morgantown. He has been a key component in facilitating several major projects for the city, such as the MGW Runway Extension Project, purchasing of a state of the art training center for law enforcement officers, laying the groundwork for the East End Development Project, and guiding our City Government through the economic downturn and recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic. His guidance was also instrumental to countless internal policy and organizational changes. While we celebrated his retirement today, his official last day in the position is tomorrow. Thereafter, as stated during the most recent City Council meeting, the position of Interim City Manager will be temporarily filled by Director of Engineering and Public Works, Damien Davis until a permanent replacement is found. Kim will be missed, and we City employees wish him well in this next stage of his life!

Last week, the Morgantown Fire Department had the privilege of helping Santa spread holiday cheer at WVU Medicine Children's. This annual tradition has brought joy to many children and their families in the hospital, and we are so appreciative of our fire department who continually supports this event. Their team assisted Santa into the bucket lift, allowing him to visit individual patient rooms as well as the surgical waiting room from outside and share festive moments with the children. They also made stops inside the hospital, to the Family Resource Center and a few individual patient rooms, where they handed out fire department swag and offered a little extra joy and comfort to families facing difficult times.

Council Connection just came out! 📥 Consideration of APPROVAL of (Second Reading) of An Ordinance amending Section 105.42 - Compensation of election officials and other expenses (First reading 12/03/2024) Passed 7-0 Consideration of APPROVAL of (Second Reading) of An Ordinance Authorizing a Lease Agreement at Morgantown Municipal Airport (First reading 12/03/2024) Passed 7-0 To read about the new business that was discussed during this week’s council meeting, sign up to receive our Council Connection! https://lnkd.in/eW_jic2U

You may have heard the news....but yesterday was a momentus occasion for our local airport as we officially welcomed United, operated by SkyWest Airlines to our community! United now offers direct flights to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) from the Morgantown Municipal Airport. The City of Morgantown and the Morgantown Municipal Airport are very excited about this move and believe it will provide travelers with new opportunities to connect to domestic and international flights on United’s global network. Now you can connect to anywhere in the world from your hometown airport. Thank you to all of the municipalities, state delegates, community organizations, passengers and more that attended the ribbon cutting ceremony. Attendees were even able to get an up close look at the new 50-seat CRJ200 aircraft while on the runway.

We're hiring for several positions! The positions include three new opening: Municipal Court Judge FBO Operations Manager FBO Customer Service Coordinator In addition, the City is still taking applications for the following openings: Electrical Inspector Event Staff Laborer- Streets Theatre, Lighting and Sound Manager Planner Airport FBO Operations Agent Police Officers (Applications need to be submitted via the MPD website) For more information, such as job descriptions, benefits, and pay, visit our website's job board at https://lnkd.in/eG-wPrPN

Last week, our City Ambassadors organized and facilitated another successful downtown cleanup! Students from one of the WVU communications classes volunteered, cleaning up debris along High Street after the annual Christmas parade. If your community or student organization, or you as an individual, are interested in volunteering opportunities with the Ambassador Program, please email Ambassadors@morgantownwv.gov.

National League of Cities Selects Mayor Abu-Ghannam for Centennial Under 40 Impact Award Joseph Abu-Ghannam, Mayor of the City of Morgantown, has been named among the inaugural recipients of the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Centennial Under 40 Impact Award. The award recognizes and celebrates the achievements of elected officials under the age of 40 from NLC member cities, towns and villages.  The winners were chosen from a competitive pool of nominees and are recognized for their outstanding contributions to public service, governance, and community development. These dynamic leaders work to shape the future of local governance, demonstrating excellence through impactful initiatives, and fostering positive change in their communities. “These incredible young leaders embody the spirit of innovation and dedication that defines the National League of Cities,” said Dr. Robert Blaine, Senior Executive & Director of NLC’s Center for Leadership, Education, Advancement & Development. “Their work is not only inspiring but also vital to addressing the challenges and opportunities facing our cities today. As NLC enters its second century, it is leaders like these that will guide the next 100 years of growth for both NLC and our country.” "Being recognized among the inaugural recipients of the NLC Centennial Under 40 Impact Award is an incredible honor,” said M. Joseph Abu-Ghannam, Mayor of the City of Morgantown. "This award is a testament to the impactful work being done in Morgantown and reflects the collective efforts of our community to drive positive changes and innovation. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the growth and vitality of our city and to be part of a broader movement shaping the future of local governance." The winners were announced during the NLC’s Centennial City Summit in Tampa, Florida, on November 13. This annual event gathers municipal officials and industry leaders from across the country to celebrate achievements and explore solutions to key issues facing municipal leaders.

We’ve thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone’s Spotify Wrapped posts! Here’s a little taste of what the City of Morgantown’s social media year-in-review looks like. Thank you for staying connected with us this year – we look forward to finding new ways to engage with the community in 2025🧨