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Morrisey announces grants for water, sewer projects across West Virginia

Provides update on southern West Virginia flood recovery

Gov. Patrick Morrisey, surrounded by lawmakers and McDowell County officials, announced funding Tuesday for several water and sewers projects and also provided an update on recovery efforts from the February floods in southern West Virginia. (Photo courtesy of the WV Governor’s Office)

CHARLESTON — Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced the awarding of grant funding for three water and sewer projects in West Virginia communities, while re-dedicating resources for flood recovery in McDowell County.

Morrisey held a press conference Tuesday in Welch with local elected officials at the West Virginia National Guard Armory, awarding a total of $2.5 million in state grants for the three water and sewer projects through the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council.

“We’ve been looking through the seat cushions and finding out and trying to identify the most meritorious projects, because people deserve to have clean drinking water. That matters a lot, and that’s the purpose of that fund,” Morrisey said. “We know that these are the kind of investments that are going to protect public health, they’re going to strengthen local economies, and they’re going to lay the foundation for a brighter future.”

Morrisey announced that the state was awarding $500,000 to the Pleasant Hill Public Service District in Calhoun County for water line extension projects for three communities: Cain, Big Root, and Bull River Run. The total project will cost $4.5 million.

The town of Junior in Barbour County was awarded $1 million to upgrade outdated water lines, meters, hydrants, and valves. The total project will cost $2.9 million and benefit approximately 396 customers throughout the town’s service area.

The town of Bradshaw in McDowell County was awarded $1 million to address serious deficiencies in the sewer system. The project will benefit approximately 106 residents. The total project cost is $8.5 million, with $2 million coming from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund among other grant funding.

“Every man, woman, and child should have access to safe, clean drinking water,” Morrisey said. “Every business owner should have the opportunity to operate in a town with modern utilities, and every county should be part of our state success story. Please know that we’re only getting started.”

Last year, during former governor Jim Justice’s last year in office before taking his seat in the U.S. Senate, the Water Development awarded Economic Enhancement Grant Fund (EEGF) dollars to 161 projects across West Virginia, including 72 sewer projects, 61 water infrastructure projects, and 28 economic development projects in 51 counties.

Those projects were funded in part through the federal American Rescue Plan Act – more than $432 million in projects that pulled down approximately $1.8 billion in private investment. Morrisey said very little of the ARPA dollars remained unspent when he took office in January.

“I want to note that when I came in, we did a review of a lot of the outstanding money. Virtually all the money that was awarded by the feds in the past was spent,” Morrisey said. “They did a really good job of spending virtually everything before I got into office, I promise you that.”

Morrisey said Tuesday’s announcement for sewer system grant funding in Bradshaw would further assist McDowell County, which is still cleaning up from February’s flooding.

“We do know that today is an important first step to make sure that McDowell County and folks around the state are better equipped to meet the needs that they have,” Morrisey said. “Whether you’re from Welch or Bradshaw or any part of McDowell County, it matters, and we’re going to continue to come back, and we want to be helpful.

“We know that there are a lot of long-term challenges facing this area, but my heart goes out to all the people here, and you’ll find that your governor is going to keep coming back again and again,” Morrisey continued. “There should never be a forgotten place in the State of West Virginia for any of our brothers and sisters.”

According to Morrisey, more than $29 million has been received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the individual assistance program, with $12.8 million going to McDowell County alone. Other counties designated for individual and public assistance include Wayne, Mingo, Logan, Wyoming, Raleigh, and Mercer counties. Lincoln, Boone, Summers, Monroe, and Greenbrier counties were only eligible for FEMA public assistance programs from February’s flooding.

“We know that in February, McDowell County and surrounding communities faced storms and flooding that took lives, destroyed homes and businesses, and many of the towns in McDowell are still dealing with those effects,” Morrisey said. “We know that during and immediately after the storm, first responders, volunteers, state officials, and county officials were on the ground, working with local leaders to coordinate cleanup and begin the recovery process.”

Morrisey said the West Virginia National Guard removed more than 17,000 tons of debris, with another 10,000 tons removed with the assistance of other contractors. The National Guard and the Division of Emergency Management also coordinated the distribution of food, drinking water, cleaning supplies, medical supplies and vaccines, and straw for erosion control.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is coordinating with the Department of Highways, the West Virginia Conservation Agency, and local officials to assess stream blockages, road conditions, and other areas. Last week, seven inspection teams were deployed across McDowell County to identify 113 sites in need of attention.

“I cannot express how grateful I am of the work that all the local officials have done, the families have done, and we have to continue to do that in the months and months ahead,” Morrisey said. “Folks have stepped up for their communities, and for that and for all the people that are here, I want to say thank you.”

Flood recovery efforts in McDowell County have faced criticisms from residents in recent weeks, with West Virginia Watch reporting at the end of April that some residents feel forgotten. But McDowell County Commissioner Michael Brooks said flood recovery work continues with the help of the Governor’s Office.

“There’s a lot of things that because we don’t get on Facebook, there are 50 million things that you may not know,” Brooks said. “I can say and guarantee you as citizens of McDowell County and residents wherever you’re from that I feel like that this county has the ear of our governor, and I know for a fact that they have went above and beyond to address multiple needs.”

Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com

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