MUB to take over operations of the PSD

MORGANTOWN — The Monongalia County Commission provided a resolution of support for an agreement that will allow the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) to take over operations of the River Road Public Service District (PSD) while awaiting word from Charleston on MUB’s acquisition of the PSD.
The move comes after MUB was approached by representatives of the PSD and the county commission, both of which requested MUB take over the utility — to which it already provides treated water.
Once in place, the operations and management agreement will allow MUB to step in and take over day-to-day operations in place of River Road employees while awaiting the West Virginia Public Service Commission’s (PSC) go-ahead on the overall acquisition.
MUB General Manager Tim Ball said the operations and management agreement could take as long as three months to get PSC approval, while the acquisition could take a year.
“Our best estimate is that it’s going to take nine-12 months for the public service commission to approve that acquisition. The River Road board and its staff would like to relinquish their duties and have MUB take over quicker than that. So this operations and management agreement is a tool that will help us accomplish that short-term goal of the River Road Public Service District,” Ball said.
Ball previously said MUB will purchase the public service district for a token amount while the actual cost comes in the form of acquired debt. River Road PSD has a 30-year, $3 million bond, which is being paid through a surcharge on customer water bills.
He said rates will not change for the approximately 780 customer accounts until the bond is paid off.
“Their rates will remain the same during that period. Once that debt is retired, we would expect to eliminate the River Road rates and implement MUB rates in that area,” Ball said. “So the River Road rates will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.”
Both the county commission and River Road Manager Michelle Malone have said the PSD is understaffed and struggling to find and keep personnel, prompting MUB’s intervention.
As reported in March, the state Ethics Commission leveled nepotism charges against Malone, the manager of both River Road and Paw Paw-Route 19 PSDs. A public hearing to consider the charges is set for July 12, in Charleston.
County commissioners, Malone and Ball have all said the charges are not a factor in the acquisition.
The commission also approved a request for proposals aimed at producing a final draft of county subdivision and land use regulations for future consideration.
A working group was formed after a pair of November 2017 public hearings. Commissioner Ed Hawkins said the group has since stalled, prompting County Planner Rich Wood to recommend seeking an outside expert to look at the document before it comes up for consideration.