Mt. Zion PSD December Board Meeting

Mt. Zion PSD Board members, President Ari White, Treasurer Anita West and Member Robin Hughes held their regular monthly meeting on December 3, 2023. 

Before the approval of the November meeting minutes, Ari White requested that a correction be made to his statement regarding the West Virginia Department of Highways in Calhoun. In the October meeting it was mistakingly said that Calhoun had received scrutiny from the EPA because they’d done things incorrectly on a culvert/bridge repair. What had happened was, the Calhoun Department was using extreme caution because another county had done something that brought EPA scrutiny. No mistake was made in calhoun county and the minutes were changed to reflect that. 

Mark Sankoff of Potesta Engineering reported to the board that their firm was continuing the current PSD Project  design, waiting for news from the Army Corps of Engineers. He had reviewed the video from the water tank done in the previous months and was working toward laying out the design for the water line.

Fred Hypes of Dun/Thrasher Engineering reported that their firms project Specs had been submitted to the DEP and he was  working with Jim Kelsh on The Mt. Zion pump station to be enlarged. In this process he was making sure the Arnoldsburg Park board and the Mt. Zion Public Service District are on the same page when working on the sewer system and what it will look like at the end.

Another project is the location of manholes which have been buried over time. A GPS is being used to locate the manholes so they can be dug out and brought up to surface depending upon the need so that operator Jeremy Westfall can get in them when necessary. 

Newly appointed representative for the Mid Ohio Valley Regional Council – Caroline Stewart – attended her first Mt. Zion PSD meeting stating that she would be pretty transparent about the turn over within the MOVRC. She reported that she had talked to people about the sewer and water update and will have a meeting with Lesley Stone later this week.

Ari White provided the following President’s Report:

He is still working on the software issues and will contact tech support to get it working. Since last month they have acquired a dump truck, allowing the PSD to put dry soil back in the work areas, and pull the backhoe without damaging their vehicle. With a commission request for further funding, we can hopefully have a truck that will pass inspection. With the approved funding for a trailer, Ari has been speaking with a dealer and trying to find one worth the price and the fuel to pick it up

Regarding a Calhoun homes meter/hydrant issue, Mike Hersman of the West Virginia Rural Water Association informed the board that he had tested the meter for flow and it did not show enough pressure to register. After the hydrant was flushed of “gunk” building up, Ronnie Brown, Maintenance Department for Calhoun Homes stated that the pressure appeared to be some better. Hersman will return for testing and possibly the Town of Grantsville will assist in the 

A Water supply agreement that had been presented by the Town of Grantsville was accepted as is and will be returned to the Town office.

A debit cards from Calhoun Banks will be provided to Jeremy Westfall, Operator to make expenditures for the PSD. 

An ethics compliant filed by Stephanie Good has been dismissed and the PSD wanted the acknowledgment made. 

The next meeting will be on January 8th, 2024  at 2 p.m.