MORGANTOWN – The Preston County Public Service District No. 1 briefly discussed Tuesday evening the rate increase proposal sitting before the state Public Service Commission.
The board also heard some comments related to various complaints circulating on social media, posted in protest letters in the PSC rate-hike case and raised at its November meeting.
Arthurdale-area residents served by PSD1 would see their monthly bill increase by 78 cents, based on a recommendation to the Public Service Commission by PSC staff posted last week.
The residential rate would increase from $19.01 per 1,000 gallons for the first 3,000 gallons used ($57.03 total) to $19.27 per 1,000 gallons – $57.81 for 3,000 gallons. The represents a 1.37% increase.
Board chair Rodney Liston briefly reviewed the major points of the PSC staff recommendation and opened the floor for comments.
No members of the public in attendance offered any. Preston County Commissioner Samantha Stone passed along a comment from a resident who questioned whether the hike is justified.
It was pointed out in reply that the PSC staff spelled out reasoning in detail in its 53-page report. A link to the report is posted on the PSD1 website under the customer service tab.
Also, under the news and notices tab, a couple cost spreadsheets are posted showing how costs have risen. The annual cost for chemicals has risen 31% since 2022, from $72,583.38 to $95,136.36. And parts costs have risen ranging from 10% to 90% during that period.
After a vote to accept the PSC staff recommendation, Liston said he would direct district’s counsel to reply to the PSC by Friday accepting the recommendation. He noted that they could appeal for a higher figure but their accountant advised the appeal would fail.
The proposed new rate still requires PSC approval, following public hearing and comments. Liston didn’t have a timeline for that.
In other matters, an resident questioned the practice of locking the entrance door during the public board meetings – done because no one is available to monitor entry to the building.
The resident pointed out state code – but didn’t quote it – which says, “Except as expressly and specifically otherwise provided by law, whether heretofore or hereinafter enacted, and except as provided in section four of this article, all meetings of any governing body shall be open to the public.”
The same resident pointed out that two of the board members, who are new but have been in place for more than six months, haven’t taken their required training. Liston directed staff to arrange for them to take the training after the New Year.
One of the two new members is Treasurer Justin Icard. In light of the ongoing complaints about PSD1’s handling of its finances, the resident asked Icard directly, “Have you looked at any of the accounts or anything to do with what the treasurer does?”
Icard replied, “Not really, yet, no.”
Other comments involved a personnel matter which at this point remains confidential and which we are not reporting at this time.
In response to comments in November that the PSD’s website needs to contain more information and transparency, it was noted that the website is undergoing improvements.
And Liston accepted a recommendation from Stone that its monthly board meetings – held typically at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday – be moved to 5 p.m to be more accessible during the course of the rate increase proposal before the PSC.
And the issue of ongoing complaints about water quality arose again. The complaints have been posted on social media and publicly discussed, but staff noted that none have been submitted to the PSD for action since November’s meeting.
“We have none,” the staffer said.
