Public Service District reps speak to Wood County officials
Trending
PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Commission is encouraging local public service districts to find a way to better serve their customers after some have had to lock their doors after encounters with angry and unruly people.
The commission wanted an update on a water line project on Five Mile Road and officials with the Mineral Wells PSD appeared before the commission and county officials also received a letter from the Union Williams PSD addressing that point.
The water line project for Mineral Wells involves extending a water line 1,835 feet to pick up an additional five to six customers along the roadway. One of the property owners, Calvin Cox, was present.
The PSD said they would run the line to his house and he would be responsible for connecting to the line. The cost estimate to run the two-inch line is $154,500, said Todd Anderson, operations manager for Mineral Wells PSD.
Cox said his neighbors were interested in connecting to the line.
Anderson said there was no more room for growth along that road.
The PSD has a line extension project in the works for the Pond Creek Road area to serve a number of residences and the local volunteer fire department. Phase 1 of the project is designed. Anderson asked the commission for money to help extend the lines to Five Mile Road and include it in Phase 2 of the project.
The commission provided 10% of the $3.5 million project which officials said is for Phase 1. Anderson said they would come back and ask for the commission’s help in doing Phase 2.
The commission asked how many residences will be a part of Phase 2 which Anderson said he would get that information together for a later presentation.
“Everyone in today’s world deserves to have clean water,” Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said.
Commissioners asked about the public’s access to local PSD offices.
Anderson said their offices are not open all the time during regular business hours after an angry individual caused damage and threatened office personnel.
“The board decided to shut that window down for safety reasons,” he said.
In a letter to the commission, Union Williams General Manager Kelley Sanders said their doors have been locked during regular business hours due to problems with some people.
“Union Williams PSD has suffered several incidents in which customers have become verbally and physically abusive while visiting the office,” Sanders wrote. “While the Wood County Sheriff’s Office was able to respond in a timely manner, this did not always keep property damage and verbal abuse of employees, including threats of violence, from happening.
“Our Board of Directors and myself made the difficult decision to lock our doors for the safety and security of our employees.”
Customers that have business in which they would like to handle in a face-to-face meeting are encouraged to call to schedule an appointment, the letter said, adding their staff is available for these appointments during regular business hours.
Commission President Blair Couch said there are people who may want to pay with cash who are not able.
Anderson said they have online payment options and they have a dropbox they utilize with instructions on how to use it.
The commission is encouraging both PSDs to look at different setups that would allow people to come in for face to face service.
“Sometimes you have to look people in the eye,” Colombo said. “That is important.”