Is the County Water Consolidation Back on for Consideration?

Let me preface this story with the fact that I was an adversary for the consolidation of the two local PSD’s and the town of Grantsville’s consolidation. I’m still uncertain as to whether or not I agree. But the problem is nobody is listening to everybody. Every sect in the decision making is listening to whom they desire to listen to and they’re flat out refusing to listen to common sense. Meanwhile they’ve handed money hand over fist to engineering firms who also don’t listen to the those who have the answers, which are those who are in the trenches of the water and sewer systems. While I understand the need for engineers, I don’t understand the State’s need to give them a blank check on every project eating up the funding that could be used for the project and then not listening to those who allowed them to get the blank check. 

I also want to preface this story, that I’m writing it from a position of someone who is very familiar with the operation of the Town of Grantsville Water System and the Mt. Zion PSD. 

I recently received an intercepted email from Luke Peters to the Mayor of Grantsville, Robert Petrovsky on March 30, 2023, regarding the consolidation. 

In the letter Peters stated to the Mayor:
”I’d like the town’s blessing in continuing to include you in the effort to clarify the details of the merger. You’ve said that the Town is open to consideration of your options, and I feel this further study should recognize there are still different possibilities on the table. The accountant’s work can be designed to show the resulting O&M effect of combining the Town and PSDs, just the PSDs. We can then make further adjustments to discover how the scenarios of staffing, benefits and office locations would change the total O&M and customer rates. Then a decision could be made based on that new knowledge which I think would comfort the council and public about the right decision for the county’s future. 

That makes perfectly good sense. Bring in the money people!

Mr. Peters went on to say “I hope that Grantsville can view this entire situation as one of opportunity and of taking action to solidify the future of public water and sewer services for all of Calhoun County. It’s truly key for the economic potential of the county across the board, including new housing in any unserved areas, maintaining reliable service to existing businesses, basic health of citizens and recreation growth of the Little Kanawha. The goal is modernized, operational, compliant and efficient utility with renewed facilities and the ability to retain staff and local control is very much tied to this decision.”

I whole heartedly agree, but there’s an issue with the last sentence in that paragraph. Grantsville’s water system is currently in a great place, the sewer system… not so much. But let’s speak to the word compliant.

Currently Grantsville’s main operator is on the verge of resigning. And while the Mayor says they have two in training, that’s only true to the point that one has tested to be a Class I Operator (Class 2 is required) and the other is barely in the beginning stages. If the current operator resigns, Grantsville has no certified or adequately trained operator. The Mayor is working under the assumption that the State of West Virginia will allow a waiver for the uncertified operator to operate alone until he reaches the hours necessary to achieve his licensing. This should scare everyone across the State of West Virginia, because if it’s allowed to happen in Calhoun, it can happen in your community as well. 

This issue falls on the State of West Virginia and to their blame. There is a shortage of qualified operators and no training that will currently remedy the situation. Leaving multiple counties at risk and out of compliance. Speaker of the House, Roger Hanshaw, has attempted to open the conversations to create a solution but had not been met with a great deal of willing participants until the recent change in the Calhoun County Commission. Now the conversation appears to be back on the table. But the money is drying up and needs to be addressed quickly. 

As for the PSD’s. To my knowledge they both have operators in good standing with adequate licensing. However, they have no abundance of staff and the staff they currently have are not always utilized to the best of the PSD’s financial benefit. 

Mr. Peters told the Mayor in the email communication to “Remove the thought that this direction is a punishment against Grantsville.” He further noted that there had been “Issues and struggles across all entities involved. If Grantsville has the resources to turn things around toward the right direction, why would you avoid the chance to share that stabilizing effect on the rest of the county’s customers who buy water from the same water plant? With the understanding that this cooperative action is the route to a new grant funded wastewater treatment plant, would removing the burden of the alternative costs of continued non-compliance or large rate increases due to loans needed to correct the plant be best for Grantsville’s citizens?” 

The entire email can be viewed here

With the details of the merger being partially understood, it certainly seems apparent that it should be considered and a talking point for the Calhoun County Commission to determine if a unified organization would stabilize the entire system. 

But what is still unclear is will there be qualified staff to operate the facilities. Currently the operator of the Grantsville Plant is working seven days a week without any immediate relief in site. (Most likely the reason he’s leaving). I know personally the toll this takes on the human body. I watched as my husband David did that job for two and a half years while the current operator was being trained. David worked most of those weeks 60-80 hours. He was physically and emotionally drained at the end of it. The State of West Virginia has failed to make certification of operators the priority it has to be. They’re placing the entire state at risk by not offering and promoting certification opportunities.

I’ve heard it said on more than one occasion “they don’t make operators like David Johnson anymore.” And it’s true. And they probably shouldn’t. Because nobody should have to give over two years of their life, working for far less on the hour than you might imagine, supervising multiple staff, repairing leaks and providing maintenance on equipment for the entire operation. 

Currently, across the County, the citizens are receiving information from the social media posts of political adversaries and people who know just enough about the operations of water and sewer systems to be dangerous. Blame is being laid at the feet of Calhoun citizens for Accountability, the 1982 Foundation, Crystal Mersh and anyone else who challenges the authority of the powers that be. 

The powers that be have had to be challenged because they’re allowing their “feelings” to guide them rather than their accountability to govern responsibly. If you can’t handle hurt feelings you shouldn’t be in government (or the news). Mayor Petrovsky said at the recent Town Council meeting that he would reconsider the consolidation once again. The communities involved must keep themselves informed and get involved in making the decision makers accountable and informative.