Public Service District approves funding request for BFD water project

Wednesday April 15, 2009
Public Service District approves funding request for BFD water project
Geoff Hamill
Staff Writer

The Pocahontas County Public Service District (PSD) modified, and then approved, a funding request for the Bartow-Frank-Durbin (BFD) water system upgrade project at its regular meeting on March 31. The PSD agreed to modify the request to include more grant money because of the high rates now paid by BFD water customers. BFD water rates are currently about two percent of the area’s median household income, which is considered a high rate. Additional grant money would reduce project cost and keep rate increases to a minimum.
The PSD board unanimously approved modification of the $592,500 funding request to include 50 percent grants and 50 percent loans. If the funding request and project plan are approved by the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council (IJDC) and the Public Service Commission (PSC), the increase to BFD water rates is expected to be around 15 percent.

After the modification, the board unanimously approved sending the request to the IJDC and PSC for approval. The PSD board moved quickly to submit the request in order to qualify for potential economic stimulus disbursements.

The board also voted unanimously to alternate its monthly meeting location between the Durbin water plant and the new PSD office in Slaty Fork. The PSD, which recently acquired the Snowshoe sewage plants, rented office space in Jerry Holder’s building next to the Inn at Snowshoe. The meetings will alternate on a monthly basis to allow more customers to attend the meetings.

The PSD unanimously approved to seek environmental consultation on the planned sewage treatment plant on Snowshoe Drive, in the event the project obtains funding from the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council.

PSD attorney Tom Michael and project engineer Ken Moran both recommended the consultation and identified two areas of special concern: the inter-basin transfer between the Shaver’s Fork and Elk River watersheds and the potential impact of a sewage spill at the plant or along a sewage pipeline.

The PSD unanimously approved expenditure up to $12,000 and agreed to seek the services of Dr. Ray P. Morgan II, environmental scientist and professor at Frostburg State University in Maryland. Morgan has worked on the project for the PSD in the past.

The next meeting of the PSD is scheduled for April 28, 7 p.m. at the Durbin water plant.