In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the urgency of utilizing available funding for upcoming projects, with a focus on the timeline for contractor bids due on September 24. The tight schedule, which allows only 30 days for bid preparation, was noted as particularly short for a large-scale project.

During the public portion of the meeting, Annie Crone from the Human Rights Commission raised concerns regarding proposed redistricting boundaries. She emphasized the need for a more equitable approach, highlighting discrepancies in the distribution of registered voters and the concentration of minorities and low-income residents in certain wards. Crone argued that the current redistricting process, which primarily considers the number of registered voters, fails to account for active voter participation and socio-economic factors.

She urged the council to revise the ordinance governing redistricting to include considerations of wealth, diversity, and active voter status, particularly in light of the significant poverty rates in Morgantown compared to the state average. Crone's comments underscored the importance of ensuring fair representation and inclusivity in the redistricting process, especially regarding the student population, which may not be accurately reflected in the current counts.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further discuss these issues and consider the implications of the proposed changes in future sessions.