The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

July 23, 2008

Early voting begins on water sale

Matthew Hill

Early voting began Monday at Fayetteville Town Hall in the run-up to next month’s final vote on the proposed sale of the town’s water and sewer systems to West Virginia American Water Co.

According to Mayor Jim Akers, the early voting will continue through Aug. 6, with a special election taking place Aug. 9.

Akers explained that the town council will hold at least one additional town meeting regarding the proposed sale, which is set to take place in conjunction with a regularly scheduled town council meeting Aug. 7. Fayetteville officials have already conducted two public hearings — May 22 and June 5 — on the matter.

The town has been in talks with West Virginia American Water Co. since before 2005, Akers recalled, and has negotiated a proposed contract for the sale of the sewer and water systems.

According to that contract, West Virginia American will pay about $3.9 million to the town for its sewer and water systems, which would eliminate Fayetteville’s related debt, he said.

Additionally, the company would invest at least $2.7 million in water system improvements and $1.5 million in sewer system upgrades in the first five years after the would-be sale.

West Virginia American will also pay for the cost of the special referendum election next month and will reimburse the town up to $25,000 for legal and accounting fees incurred by the town during negotiations, a company spokesperson said in May.

City officials have also negotiated a discount from West Virginia American’s water rates for the next four years and from its sewer rates for the next two years if the sale is approved by voters, added Akers.

If the sale fails to meet with the approval of Fayetteville voters, Akers asserted that the city’s accountant predicts that water rates would increase by 25 to 30 percent and sewer rates would spike by about 13 percent immediately. Such an increase would result in rates higher than those of West Virginia American Water Co., he estimated.

For more information on the proposed sale or on the voting process, visit Fayetteville Town Hall or call 304-574-0101.

— E-mail: mhill

@register-herald.com

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