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While water is still flowing to customers of the Mt. Zion PSD, no one is reporting to work to keep the utility going, with a boil water advisory in effect for customers since the district does not have a certified water operator to test its safety.
The Mt. Zion PSD board is scheduled to meet today to consider a proposal issued by the Town of Grantsville Friday for an operation and maintenance agreement to keep water flowing.
That agreement, according to Mayor Curtis Garretson, would allow the system to continue operating for up to one year.
The Calhoun Commission, which meets Monday morning, will consider options the county might have to help resolve the problem, although the West Virginia Public Service Commission is the oversight agency.
Commissioner Chip Westfall said the county would consider hiring a certified operator on a temporary basis if it would help to lift the boil water advisory, which affects hundreds of customers, multiple businesses and two public schools.
The Mt. Zion PSD has no money to continue operations since a summary judgment was issued against its assets.
ORIGINAL STORY - A temporary solution to keep Mt. Zion PSD water flowing to customers was the object of a special council meeting Friday night in Grantsville.
Grantsville Mayor Curtis Garretson, with the assistance of the West Virginia Public Service Commission, proposed that Grantsville enter into an operation and maintenance agreement with the Mt. Zion PSD board for a period of one year.
Members of the Mt. Zion PSD board, Sharon Postalwait, Shirley Mace and Roscoe Gainer attended the meeting, and according to Mayor Garretson, took the proposal under advisement and will make a decision at a special meeting Monday.
Mayor Garretson said, "The town is concerned about the survival of one of our biggest customers," the town sells between $8,000-$12,000 to the PSD monthly.
The town council voted 3-2 to give the mayor authority to move forward with the contract, hiring attorney Loren Howley to represent the town.
Officials meet Monday with WV Public Service representative Jeff Bennett, who issued guidelines and a sample written agreement.
Problems escalated this week for the PSD after a summary judgment was declared against them for about $71,000.
The judgment depleted the PSDs cash assets, after which their employees are "off duty," and no longer reporting to work.
Calhoun Commission president Kevin Helmick said, "We're hopeful meetings will move toward a resolution of a really serious problem."
Commissioner Chip Westfall said, "We're going to do everything in our power to keep the water flowing."
See related story MT. ZION PSD WATER SERVICE AT RISK - Town Of Grantsville, Calhoun Commission Holding Emergency Meetings
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