| Calhoun Commission president Chip Westfall said this week that a proposed $100 million Columbia compressor station will be built in a remote area of Calhoun near the Ritchie line.
Filings and press releases by Columbia, including one with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, indicates otherwise, that the station will be build in Ritchie County.
Westfall said, "However, the parcel of land on which it will be built is in both Ritchie and Calhoun, and according to state code, the portion of the land with the highest assessed value is where the taxation goes."
"Right now, the portion of the land with the highest assessed value is in Ritchie County because there is a house on the property, but this will change once the station is built."
Most of the acreage being sought for the station is in Calhoun.
"The county commission is working with Columbia and the Calhoun assessor to ensure that the county gets the revenue it is entitled to through state code," Westfall said.
Commissioner Kevin Helmick said during negotiations with Columbia, "We have asked that Columbia pay the largest portion of taxes in future years.
"We are trying to look out for the county's best interest for the next 30 years. If this is done, it will give the county a better chance to deal with inflation costs over the long haul," Helmick said.
The commission is working on a tax deal that would benefit county citizens and would directly be applied to the county school systems $1.8 million deficit.
Final decisions on the project are expected to be made in late Spring.
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