|
Public water is coming to several areas of Wirt County.
Several water line extensions have been approved by the Appalachian Regional Commission, according to Gov. Joe Manchin.
The town of Elizabeth will receive $500,000 for the installation of about 154,273 linear feet of water line and a 100,000-gallon water storage tank.
The storage tank will be used to extend water service to six areas of the county, including 302 households.
The project has been named the "Jessica Lynch Water Extension Project."
Lynch's home is in the area where lines are being extended.
The initial $1.5 million project included upgrades for Elizabeth as well as lines being extended into the Palestine area, River Road, Rose Hill Road, Tower Road, along West Virginia 5 and Fish Hatchery Road.
The project closed the Elizabeth water plant, with Elizabeth now purchasing its water from Claywood Park Public Service District.
Town officials say they are now working to extend water lines farther into the county.
A Burning Springs Road group has issued a complaint they are being excluded from the project, according to Elizabeth Batton of Elizabeth.
"I feel this project needs to be reviewed based on need," said Batton, saying Elizabeth officials have denied their request saying there are not enough residents needing service. "This is just not so," she said.
The new $4.5 million project will extend water lines along W.Va. 53 to the Newark Road Bridge, along Wells Lock Road, along W.Va. 5 to Burning Springs, along W.Va. 14 in Palestine and along Garfield Road almost to the Jackson County line.
Elizabeth has secured $1.5 million in small cities block grants, $1.7 million from the Rural Utilities Service as well as an $832,000 loan.
The $500,000 ARC grant was the last amount of funding needed for the proposed project.
Elizabeth Mayor Full said "I am hoping it will also help development throughout the area."
| 
