Regional wastewater public meeting Friday evening

Wednesday January 07, 2009

Geoff Hamill
Staff Writer

The Pocahontas County Public Service District (PSD) scheduled two public meetings to provide information and receive public comment on plans for the regional wastewater project.

The PSD announced the special meeting dates at the regular meeting last Tuesday evening.

Ken Moran of Thrasher Engineering will present the revised engineering reports for the regional wastewater project at the first public meeting, scheduled for January 9 at 6 p.m. at the Snowshoe Welcome Center, at the intersection of Snowshoe Road and Route 66, near Linwood.

The purpose of the second meeting is to receive public comments on Thrasher’s analysis and is scheduled for January 15 at 6 p.m. at the Snowshoe Welcome Center.

The PSD selected Site 7, on Snowshoe Road, as the preferred site for a regional plant, but is required by law to examine alternatives. Members of the Snowshoe Property Owners Council have urged the PSD to consider upgrade of Snowshoe’s existing plants and a smaller regional plant in the valley.

At Tuesday’s meeting, PSD attorney Tom Michael presented a proposed engineering agreement between the PSD and Thrasher Engineering. The new agreement is necessary due to the change of preferred site for the regional plant. PSD secretary Scott Millican said he needed time to review the agreement and the PSD tabled approval of the agreement for a later date.

The deeds for Snowshoe’s three sewage treatment plants were transferred to the PSD on December 30. The PSD now owns the Snowshoe treatment plant, the Silver Creek treatment plant and the Inn’s package plant.

Under a vendor agreement, Snowshoe Water and Sewer, Inc., will continue to operate the facilities for the PSD until July 1. The vendor agreement allows the PSD a transition period to establish procedures, determine personnel requirements and settle in as the new operators.

The PSD also accepted responsibility for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for the facilities. The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) monitors NPDES permit compliance by inspecting water discharge from the plants. In addition, the PSD must submit monthly discharge reports to the DEP.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the PSD discussed some of the tasks they face with their new responsibilities.

The PSD has more than 1,800 new customers as owners of the Snowshoe facilities. The PSD is reviewing applicable Public Service Commission regulations and other laws to develop billing and overdue account procedures for the new customers.

Lloyd Coleman, of Snowshoe Water and Sewer, Inc., discussed the status of the five current plant employees with the PSD. Coleman told the PSD that as few as three people could operate the plants, but that four would be “optimal.”

The PSD members and Coleman said they were unclear on the status of a sewage pumping truck that is being used at the Snowshoe plants. The PSD plans to determine if the truck was transferred along with the sewage facilities.

The PSD conducts its regular meetings at the Durbin water works building on the last Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m.

Note: In last month’s PSD update, Mark Smith was incorrectly identified as PSD president. Bill Rexrode is PSD president.