KINGWOOD -— Low water usage due to restaurant and school closings has had an effect on Kingwood’s water works budget.
Amy DeBerry, water clerk, told board members at Tuesday’s meeting that funds collected were down $35,000 between March and June compared to last year for the same period.
She said this amount had nothing to do with customers not paying bills due. DeBerry indicated customers who previously had late bills due to COVID-19 have made arrangements to pay their bills.
The board did not discuss the lower income.
In other business Tim Rice of Potesta Engineering, engineer for the Herring Road and Howesville projects, said the Herring Road project is being readied for bid.
DeBerry said the project is being funded through the Abandoned Mine Lands program. Its estimated cost is $2.6 million.
DeBerry said an additional 58 customers in that area have requested service. She said it is being looked into but due to funding she doesn’t know if the service can be provided.
Once the project is started Rice indicated a small bat box might have to be provided. The Indiana bat and the Virginia big-ear bat are federal endangered species found in West Virginia, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
Board members voted unanimously to cancel the contract with The Thrasher Group.
Earlier, Clay Riley, vice president of business development for engineering firm The Thrasher Group, said his company was interested in completing phase two of a water project that began 11 years ago.
Riley said the engineering firm completed phase one of the project eight or nine years ago. He said due to misinformation between the company and the city phase two of the project was never started.
Board Chairman Robert DeRiggi said the board had only heard from Thrasher twice since phase one of the project was completed in 2008.
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