To the Citizens of Calhoun County,
The Calhoun County Commission wishes to provide clarity regarding the recent developments involving the operations and maintenance agreement between the Mt. Zion Public Service District, Pleasant Hill Public Service District, and the Town of Grantsville.
While the County Commission is not directly involved in the day-to-day operational decisions of this agreement, we are responsible for oversight of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that were awarded to these three entities with the goal of encouraging cooperation and potential consolidation to strengthen water services across Calhoun County.
By unanimous vote of all three entities, Mr. Brian Arthur—an individual who is widely respected and highly qualified—was selected to serve as General Manager for the three systems. Mr. Arthur has spent several years traveling throughout the State of West Virginia providing training and technical assistance to public service districts and municipalities on water system operations. His expertise and experience represent a significant asset, and his departure is a tremendous loss for the citizens of our county, who deserve the highest level of professional service. The Calhoun County Commission offers its most sincere apologies to Mr. Arthur for the circumstances surrounding this matter.
In December 2024, approximately $1.2 million in ARPA funding was allocated to support the cooperative operations and maintenance agreement. Each participating entity was assigned specific responsibilities and directed on how their respective portions of the funding were to be utilized. Under this allocation, the Town of Grantsville was designated to employ the General Manager, while Mt. Zion PSD was allotted funding to cover the benefits associated with that position.
Despite the unanimous vote by all three entities to hire Mr. Arthur, the Town of Grantsville declined to place him on its payroll, thereby refusing to comply with the agreed-upon terms. Mr. Arthur left his previous employment and began work under this agreement on January 2, 2025.
The Calhoun County Commission will now be reviewing the ARPA funding provided to each entity and will work closely with appropriate state agencies to ensure that all funds are fully accounted for and that any necessary reimbursements are properly made.
The Calhoun County Commission will not tolerate the misuse of public funds, nor will it allow the actions of a single entity—operating under a formal agreement—to undermine the functionality and reliability of water systems serving our residents. Our priority remains the protection of public resources and the delivery of dependable water services for all citizens of Calhoun County.
Sincerely,
The Calhoun County Commission
