| By Dianne Weaver
The Calhoun Commission has not been the only government entity having problems getting records from the Mt. Zion Public Service District.
The Mt. Zion PSD was in trouble earlier in the year with the West Virginia Public Service Commission for failing to file annual reports, required under WV Code.
The state PSC says the Mt. Zion PSD failed to file reports with the state agency in 2008.
The PSD provides services from Grantsville to Arnoldsburg, and is now responsible for the largest infrastructure project ever to come to Calhoun County.
The Mt. Zion PSD has also failed to provide regular minutes and records to the Calhoun County Commission.
After PSD secretary-treasurer Wilma Mace ignored requests for records, the Calhoun Commission passed a motion to acquire records, and more recently issued a formal Freedom of Information request.
Mace indicated to a Calhoun Chronicle reporter she had not received written requests for records, implying she was the victim of rumors.
On March 6, 2009, the Public Service Commission issued an order for an investigation of the Mt. Zion operation, referring the matter to an Administrative Law Judge for a decision to be rendered on or before October 2, 2009.
A report issued last week on August 19, 2009, says the WV Public Service Commission has now received the 2008 Annual Report
from the Mt. Zion Public Service District, indicating "it is reasonable to dismiss this proceeding and
strike this case from the Commission's docket ..."
The Calhoun Commission has held two public meetings this year regarding the 21-mile $5.2 million water extension project, expressing concerns about a multitude of problems.
Following a public meeting earlier this year, county commissioners discovered the rights-of-way for the project had not been secured in 2008, with some PSD board members saying they were unaware the project was stuck.
Mace told the commissioners the right-of-way documents were on her desk and on the desk of the PSD attorney.
The commission, using Administrative Assistant Danielle Stevens, and hiring a person recommended by the PSD, moved the right-of-way problem ahead, readying it for bid.
Since then, additional complaints have surfaced from bidders on the project, with threats of lawsuits.
At a public meeting Monday, Project Engineer Jim Hildreth said "We've had abnormalities in the bidding process. We've had to address issues that would not ordinarily occur."
The county commission's FOIA calls for release of all official minutes from 2004 to current date 2009. It also calls for all financial statements, audits, or records for the same period.
The PSD has scheduled a special meeting Monday at 5 p.m. at the Arnoldsburg Community building.
See related story "IT'S TIME TO DIG DITCH" - Calhoun Commission Hearing Airs Waterline Problems
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