| Problems for the Mt. Zion Public Service District have escalated since Judge David W. Nibert issued a summary judgment against the district for non-payment of an account, about $71,000.
Service to several hundred customers and businesses are at risk.
Calhoun Middle-High School and Arnoldsburg School must import water to continue operating since a boil water advisory was issued Thursday.
The Calhoun Commission and the Town of Grantsville are both taking action to re-mediate the problem.
Commission president Kevin Helmick said, "We're hopeful meetings will move toward a resolution of a really serious problem," while Grantsville Mayor Curtis Garretson has called for a meeting Friday with the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
Commissioner Chip Westfall said, "We going to do everything in our power to keep the water flowing."
Calhoun Office of Emergency Services Director Kathy Wood has been notified about the problem.
The summary judgement was issued in behalf of B & T Battery Company, who performed labor and repair on the water lines under contract, the judgment reportedly depleting the cash assets of Mt. Zion PSD.
The judgment indicates the Mt. Zion PSD defaulted on a compromised payment plan to B & T Battery.
The Mt. Zion PSD did not reply to or contest the judgment.
PSD employees are no longer reporting to work.
Thursday, a boil water advisory was issued for all customers of the district by Richard Snyder, district engineer of the West Virginia Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health.
The agency issued the alert because all PSD employees are "off duty," reportedly because the Mt. Zion PSD has no operating funds.
With the PSD lacking funds, they will be unable to pay for water purchased from the town of Grantsville, which is between $8,000-$12,000 monthly, and further, without a certified water operator the health department says the safeness of the water is at risk.
Grantsville Mayor Curtis Garretson told the Herald Thursday night he has arranged a meeting Friday morning with a representative of the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
"We hope that at least a short term solution can be found," Garretson said, indicting a lifting of the boil water advisory.
The Calhoun Commission has placed the issue on Monday's docket, inviting Mt. Zion PSD board members, mayor Garretson and other officials, although the West Virginia Public Service Commission has jurisdiction over state PSDs.
Commissioner Bob Weaver said, "The commission has long played a role in trying to keep the PSD operational, through accountability and supporting their efforts, particularly after they approached default under former leadership, although the commission lacks legal power."
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