Local News

Union Williams PSD will be seeking a rate increase, county tests voting tabulator

PARKERSBURG - The Union Williams Public Service District will now be under the authority of the Wood County Commission in setting its rates.

Officials with the PSD appeared before the commission on Monday, including accountant Zach Dobbins of Bennett & Dobbins PLLC and Union Williams General Manager Kelley Sanders.

"We are here today to let you know that we are in the process of a rate increase," Dobbins said.

Dobbins said all the paperwork has been filed with the Public Service Commission indicating that Union Williams PSD has over 4,500 customers and over $3 million in combined revenues for sewer and water. They have 5,078 water and sewer customers combined.

All of that combined means they now meet the state requirements to have the county commission approve their rate increases, Dobbins said.

"We are only asking for a water rate increase," he said. "Right now, our sewer side is not doing too bad."

They are in the middle of a project to do renovations to the sewer plant that includes millions of dollars from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Agency that includes grants and low-interest loans.

The district is proposing a two-step increase Step 1 would be a 17 percent increase for one year, taking into account wage and insurance increases as well as some inflation numbers as well as chemical and supply costs. Step 2 would be an 8 % increase.

A 3,000 gallon bill is currently $27.60. The 17% increase will take it to $32.28 then the 8% increase will be $34.86.

The district's minimum bill is $18.40 which will go to $21.52 for Step 1 and $23.24 for Step 2.

Sanders said the district is in discussions about doing expansion work at the Gateway West Virginia industrial site near Williamstown.

She said they have not been given a gallon amount needed.

"It is very preliminary," Sanders said. "They do expect to cover the full cost of water and sewer upgrades."

Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said the commission wants to support growth and development.

Sanders said there is talk of increasing sewer lines size.

Commission President Blair Couch said that one of the possible uses being discussed for that property along Access Road is a possible data center.

"We have not had confirmation here at the commission," he said. "No one has come before us to tell us this stuff."

Dobbins said the first reading for the rate increase is planned for the district's November meeting. The second reading will be at the December meeting.

They will do a public hearing at some point to make sure the public's questions are addressed, Dobbins said.

They would then come before the commission to have the commission consider the rate increase which would be after the first of the new year.

Union Williams have four operating wells and Sanders said a future goal would be to repair their fifth well restored.

Couch said Union Williams has traditionally had the lowest rates of the PSDs in the county.

In other business, the commission held a public inspection and testing of the Election Day equipment tabulator. Wood County IT Director Chris Whittaker and Wood County Clerk Joe Gonzales ran the test before the commission. They tested out the tabulator, taking into account that there will be write-in candidates eligible for this ballot.

Gonzales said the names don't have to be spelled completely correct, but officials have to know what the voter was going for. Write-in votes will have an option to click on the voting machines where a digital keyboard will appear and the voter can type in the name.

Only recognized write-in candidates registered with the state will count, officials said.

Gonzales said there has already been 2,523 early voters as of early Monday morning.

Community Voting Sites at the Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department,1349 Harris Highway; the Mineral Wells Volunteer Fire Department, 1695 Elizabeth Pike; the Vienna Community Building, 1301 34th St., Vienna; and the Williamstown City Building, 100 West 5th St.; will be open today and run through Saturday. The sites will be open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm through Friday and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday.

"Right now, everything is good," Gonzales said.