PARKERSBURG — The waterline extension project for the Pond Creek area is getting closer to having the necessary money in place to extend the waterlines to around 40 customers.

The Wood County Commission received an update Monday from representatives from the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council and the Mineral Wells Public Service District on the proposed project.

Luke Peters, Community Development Director for the MOVRC, said the Mineral Wells PSD has been looking at funding the project through grants so the PSD would not have to raise prices on their customers to fund it.

The commission previously agreed to a 10% match for the project of around $500,000-$600,000, but it would not be able to fund the entire project.

The initial estimate for the project was around $3.235 million which would make the county’s portion around $323,000, Commission President Blair Couch said.

Peters said they applied to the West Virginia Water Development Authority for over $2.8 million and were approved for $1.6 million in available American Recovery Act money.

“We wanted to update you on the status of the committed funds and what we are doing to make up that difference,” Peters said.

A Mineral Wells PSD official said there was a gap of around $1.273 million.

Officials are going to be applying to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for funding and the application is due in February. Peters said they are expecting an answer by late spring with the signups by late summer. Construction could start as early 2024.

As the project was reviewed they found they could add some additional people for a little extra cost.

“If we can get it funded with grants, that doesn’t add debt (to the PSD),” Peters said. “This would also set them up to do additional extensions and line up future customers.”

The commission remains supportive of the project.

“We stand by our commitment and look forward to get some people on water,” Couch said.

In other business, the commission discussed conditions at 1442 Southern Highway, Mineral Wells and 11 South Street, Parkersburg.

Wood County Compliance Officer Sarah Robinson said she has received complaints about both properties with trash and debris spread about the properties.

The property at 1442 Southern Highway has had a number of vehicles, in various shape and condition, stored on the property. The commission had previously talked to the property owner with some work being done, but the number of vehicles are accumulating there with Robinson said she found only one that was licensed and registered in the state of West Virginia.

She talked to the owner during the holiday season and was told he would clean up things within a couple of weeks, but nothing was done.

The property at 11 South Street had trash and debris on the ground as well as raw sewage on the ground there. Robinson said she has gotten complaints about the condition and the smell. Officials want her to pick up the trash and debris while the sewage would be handled by the health department.

Both owners will be brought back to the commission for hearings on how to address both situations.

The commission set the days and times for the annual session where the commission meets as the Board of Equalization and Review to review property assessments made by the Wood County Assessor’s Office.

They will meet as the board on Feb. 2, 6, 9, 13 and 16 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. If needed appointments can be made from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on those days.

Hearings will also be available, by appointment, Monday, Feb. 6, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The assessor will submit the property books for the current year at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 2.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com