Water Co. Consolidation: Somebody Better Get This Boat in the Water

By Shari Johnson, Publisher

The tri-consolidation process of the water systems in Calhoun County has been a source of contention and political manipulation from the beginning. To the general public involved (water customers), so long as their water is coming out of the faucet without issue, their bill is reasonable and they have trust in those in charge of producing the water the politics of operation is of little concern.

The progress that Calhoun County residents have made in the realm of county government since 2020 has been no small accomplishment. Government meetings are moderately well attended, financial and decision making transparency has been sought and improved, businesses are now looking at Calhoun County as a potential location and now is not the time for residents to assume our boat is about to sail.

With the current crew members still on deck of Calhoun’s Boat of Business, “A rising tide lifts all boats” is a fitting quote of what could be the future of Calhoun County if we continue to monitor the port. The quote suggests that economic improvements will help all participants in the economy, regardless of their individual circumstances if all those on board work together. Such as the consolidation.

John F. Kennedy is credited with popularizing the phrase in the 1950s to describe local economic development projects in New England. 

Let’s discuss a New Calhoun.

Calhoun residents have long been victims of an oppressive government that much preferred the citizens to be uninvolved with their meetings. That allowed decision making to be done by a scarce few and benefits to be made by the same. The ability to broadcast meetings live on social media has changed the level of awareness and allowed citizens to vote accordingly and make their own opinions known to county officials.

Ridgeview News attended the Tri-consolidation meeting of The Town of Grantsville, Mt. Zion PSD and Pleasant Hill PSD at the Grantsville Town Office on Monday, December 9th, 2024. The reason for my attendance was to learn at what stage the consolidation effort was at.

At recent Calhoun County Commission meetings the county was given the impression that the consolidation efforts could be sped up by the County Commission paying $317,471 in bonds due by the three water entities combined.

Those bonds were a huge part of the Town of Grantsville’s 60% rate increase request, as well as 400,000 gallons of water loss due to leaks, (which has now been cut in half and is no longer an issue.) Add to that their additional 1% sales tax which has been added on to purchases in town and things look pretty good for the town even without their 60% increase.

When the WVPSC requested proof of the Town’s need for the 60% increase , issues found by those reviewing the complaint was the Town of Grantsville’s failure in not reserving cash and the PSC said that they had funds to do it, they just didn’t. They were producing 100% more water than needed to be produced because of leaks, numerous errors in accounting including a cited instance of an invoice being booked twice. While the Town has solved their financial problems by an increase of cost for their customers, the County is still considering paying off their bonds with county tax dollars. There is no evidence that they’re being responsible with what they currently have, and yet, they’re in line (unbeknownst to the WVPSC) to receive more money that they’ll not be held accountable for.

It was mentioned in Monday’s Calhoun Commission meeting that a few residents had already requested water bill assistance and were turned away because they didn’t have children in their homes. Public assistance for utilities is also only permitted to be used once a year by the agencies who offer assistance such as CRI, FRN and Neighbors Helping Neighbors. While gas and electric bills can be a seasonal issue, water is a 12 months out of the year issue for most.

As I sat and videoed the water consolidation meeting on Monday night for one hour, my frustration grew as well as those in Ridgeview News viewership. According to those participating in the meeting, each entity was supposed to bring their monthly financial obligations to the table to determine what would be put into each coffer to pay their own bills and their collective bills upon consolidation, or at least the beginning of consolidation through the O&M Agreement.

When I tell you it was a band chaos all humming a different tune I’m not kidding. While it appeared the Mayor lead the meeting, there was no agenda or plan on how to proceed. One of them joked about having forgotten to bring their share of bills, others were clueless as to what exactly was being paid for and who it was being paid to, other questions that arose were just simply unanswered.

This article is to open another window to what is happening when citizens are not involved by attending and asking questions. While Monopoly is being played and paid with county funds, there is no banker auditing the game.

That’s the issue with the WV Public Service District. They’ve allowed the Town and other agencies to be their own bankers, without questioning anything, including obvious and (noted in their reporting) inconsistencies in their finances. Those that should have lead to an in depth audit but was simply brushed aside without question.

The decision to allow the Town of Grantsville to continue with their increase was filed November 22nd by Nathan Crouch. Below are clipped images from the letter showing the inconsistencies of financial management by the Town of Grantsville.

The WVPSC hearing to finalize the 60% increase decision was held on December 3rd, 2024 without suitable notice to the parties who had filed the petition to stop the increase. The WVPSC justification for not notifying the parties was that a legal ad was ran two months prior to the meeting wherein the hearing date was announced.

What should be professional expectation of notifying the public and those involved has somehow managed to become unnecessary by State, County and City government and denies the citizens the right to attend and defend their own interests.

It is the Governments duty to take care of the citizens and insure that Government agencies operate legally and effectively with the best interest of the citizens in mind. This is not the case.

So, for the people who are depending on this consolidation, you need to understand that the boat being built for this county to set sail in is a dingy at this point. Before the consolidation takes place, an O&M agreement has to be completed, and if Monday night’s meeting is any indication of it getting accomplished, we’re in trouble.