Sewer system still mulling whether to bill for vacant structures

The board of the Warm Springs Public Service District is still considering billing habitable, vacant structures connected to, or able to connect to the sewer system.

At the September 12 board meeting, board members Paul Zorich and Joyce Altomare voted to adopt an Uninhabitable Property Policy.

The third board member, Michael Jenkins was unable to attend the meeting.

The policy defines an uninhabitable property as one that has been condemned by the Morgan County Health Department or other appropriate government authority.

The policy goes on to state until a property has been determined to be uninhabitable, owners or tenants of the property will be billed by the District.

The policy must be approved by the West Virginia Public Service Commission.

Board members felt approval would be a formality because the language in the policy was reviewed by legal counsel and the wording taken from existing case law.

Billing policy on hold
The board stopped short of defining a specific billing policy for vacant structures.

General Manager Rodney Hovermale told the board there are 217 properties that have been billed over the years that are no longer being billed as of August.

He said some of the buildings have been torn down, some are vacant and others will soon come back online as they are rented or occupied.

He said potentially 170 of those properties might be vacant for the long term.

Other business
The board reviewed a vehicle safety policy and referred it back to the safety committee for further modification.

The board approved the purchase of six magnetic signs for the District’s vehicles.

Hovermale was instructed by the board to continue looking for a new uniform company. The contract with the old uniform company runs out in October and is not being renewed.

The board tabled a discussion of the best way to spend $21,000 received from the sale of equipment until the next meeting when all three board members are present.

Flood waters handled by plant
The flash flood of Saturday, September 1 did not overwhelm the sewer processing plant.

Hovermale said the plant can handle up to 5.5 million gallons a day. He said the plant processed 2.5 – 3 million gallons the day of the flood and the day after.

Although the plant did not reach its capacity, Hovermale said, “Apparently we reached our line capacity in a lot of places.”