Photo of Consolidation member discussion outside courthouse following meeting
A meeting of the Calhoun County Commission with the three water entities, The Town of Grantsville, Mt. Zion PSD and the Pleasant Hill PSD was held Monday evening, April 21, 2025 in the Little Courtroom.
Prior to the meeting Clerk Jean Simers swore in newly appointed Mt. Zion PSD board member Jason Firestine.
Courtney Alexander, City Councilwoman, was the first and last to speak. She began her conversation by belittling the Calhoun County Commissioners and their role in the consolidation process. Accusing them of overstepping and taking control of the consolidation process when they had no right, because it was between the three water companies, not the Commission.
According to Ms. Alexander, a matter confirmed by the two other Public Service Districts and the other city council members present as well, the copy of the O&M Agreement that was sent to the West Virginia Public Service District was fraudulent. It was not the agreement signed by the three entities, but had (according to Ms. Alexander) 795 changes made to it.
In October of 2024 the O&M Committee met and determined two changes that needed made to the agreement. 1. Clarifying how the water would be purchased from Grantsville. 2. They needed to expound upon the financials. When those changes were made, the agreement was signed.
Among many things that Ms. Alexander said to the three Commissioners, Craig Arthur, Jacob McCumbers and Eric Lupardus, she spoke very accusatory saying that “Everyone here cost us a ***expletive** good general manager. Her reasoning for that was Chad Drennen had pulled his application from consideration because the group had changed the O&M Agreement to say that all decisions made by the group would have to be unanimous.
The decision being unanimous was stating that all three entities had to be unanimous, not every single person involved. But that seemed not to be understood or appreciated by Ms. Alexander.
City Recorder Emily Collins suggested that the group go back to the original agreement
Ari White, Board member of the Mt. Zion PSD spoke up saying that he believed he knew how the fraudulent agreement had gotten into the hands of the WV PSC. He stated that Anita West, former Mt. Zion PSD Board member had had their attorney look at the agreement and make changes. When the document was returned they had collectively agreed not to accept their attorney’s recommendations but keep the original agreement. He believed that Anita had (Intentionally or Unintentionally) none the less, in error, sent the wrong agreement to the WVPSC.
Ms. Alexander suggested that someone was trying to “set up” Commissioner Arthur. She further stated that “The whole O&M is null and void” according to her.
The meeting from their went completely down hill. At that point Commissioner Craig Arthur justifiably, shut the meeting down.
Ridgeview News did not Video the meeting believing that it would not be necessary. However, when things began to get out of control, I made an audio of the last 15 minutes of the meeting. Readers can draw their own conclusion about the professional level of those involved by listening to that audio.
As for Ms. Alexander’s opinion that the Calhoun County Commission did not have a right to oversee the consolidation process and the three water entities, Ridgeview News makes this statement.
The Calhoun County Commission gave the water companies 1.2 million dollars of money that belonged to Calhoun County. Whether or not it was ARPA funding had nothing to do with it. (Which Ms. Alexander suggested). The money belonged to the entire county. Therefore whether or not a person has water service doesn’t really matter. The entire county is invested. The ingratitude of the Town’s response by saying the Commission had “overstepped” their bounds and caused the General Manager candidate to withdraw his name, leads me to believe they want no County input whatsoever. After the county has bailed them out on NUMEROUS occasions, I found it offensive that Ms. Alexander insulted the Commissioners as she did with derogatory language
