KINGWOOD — Four infrastructure projects will be sent to West Virginia’s federal representatives to hopefully receive funding through appropriations.
This is the same way Rowlesburg got $7 million to fund a sewer project, Executive Director of the Preston County Economic Development Authority Roberta Taylor said. PSD 1 got a bit over $600,000 for its system.
Taylor briefed the Preston County Commission on the projects at its regular meeting Tuesday and asked commissioners to sign a letter of support — which they unanimously voted to do.
All four projects will be submitted to Sen. Joe Manchin, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and Congressman David McKinley, Taylor said.
Other projects, including one for Arthurdale, were looked at but weren’t a good match for the funding requirements.
“While they kind of fit, the categories where they fit closely, there’s a clause that says no construction permitted,” Taylor said. “And frankly, we need the money for construction.”
Kingwood water and Kingwood sewer are each projects. Terra Alta water system upgrades and Hazelton wastewater treatment plant upgrades are the other two.
“The Kingwood water project is really, truly a partnership with Camp Dawson, and Camp Dawson is on board with this project. It’s called Project Wisdom; Water Intelligence and Security Development for Operational Support of the Military — WISDOM,” Taylor said.
The $5 million project primarily focuses on improving the reliability, safety and security of the water supply for Camp Dawson and Kingwood residents. Taylor said there are issues with an intermediate tank that provides water to both.
The Kingwood sewer project is $9.1 million and will add gravity sewer to 18 residences. It also picks up 138 new customers in the service area, but does not provide service, Taylor said.
“Basically, it’s eliminating the grinder pumps that we didn’t eliminate on the first sewer project … saving the sewer board money and bringing service to additional customers,” Taylor said.
A $3.8 million project in Terra Alta has gone on for several years, Taylor said.
“They need upgrades to their existing system. We’re not adding any new customers. This just updates the system in town. It upgrades the water treatment plant. … We’re replacing the outdated meters in town and we’re constructing a new water tank to replace the water tank that is outdated and is failing.”
The Hazelton plant provides service to the prison, the North Point Business and Industry Park, and will soon provide water to a welcome center.
Taylor said the plant currently has a notice of violation for exceeding the metal discharge limit.
“So what this project does is it brings back into compliance by adding additional components to the treatment plant to get rid of the metal,” Taylor said.
The metal naturally occurs in the drinking water and is safe to drink, but you can’t discharge it.
“That makes no sense,” Commissioner Don Smith said.
“It makes no sense whatsoever, but it is the DEP’s regulation and so we have to address that to bring the plant into compliance,” Taylor said.
The exact cost of that project is unknown but expected to be $4.5 million-$5 million.
“This is no guarantee that we’re going to get the money,” Taylor said. “Obviously we won’t get it if we don’t ask for it.”
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