The Hardy County Public Service District met by telephone for their regular meeting on Aug. 5. Board members present were Rose Helmick and Justin Basye. Also present were Logan Moyers, Connie Sherman, and Tre Kerns, an engineer from The Thrasher Group.
Moyers, PSD General Manager, updated the board on the Baker Water Treatment Plant upgrade and line extension contracts. Regarding the line extension, Killdeer Lane is online and using water. Trout Run Cutoff is on a new line. A booster station comes online this week, which will require a boil notice for Dover Hollow and Fort Run until approximately Aug. 14. The last segment involves upgrading a four-inch line to eight inches for improved fire protection on Trough Road.
“I think that contract is going really well,” Moyers said.
The second contract involves the Baker plant itself. Moyers said the equipment is being installed, and the contractor estimates project completion by the end of October. The goal for this project is better disinfected byproduct levels.
The board approved financial drawdown #6 for the projects, which totals $107,541.55 for Breckenridge Construction (water plant/Contract #2), $166,781.25 for Chojnacki Construction (line extension/Contract #1); and between $25,000 and $30,000 for Thrasher Group, which supervises both projects.
Moyers briefed the board that plans for the new PSD facility are complete, with only minor changes from the last time the board saw the plans.
The new facility, which will be built in the Robert C. Byrd Industrial Park on Old Route 55 east of Moorefield, will replace the PSD’s current temporary placement after their previous offices were flooded two years ago.
FEMA has nearly completed their environmental clearance on the new site. Once that is done, Moyers said they can complete purchasing the property from the Hardy County Rural Development Authority. Once purchased, the PSD can move forward on receiving bids and obtaining necessary permits, licenses and clearances.
The W.Va. Auditor’s Office requires the PSD to seek bids for an auditing firm for the next three years. Moyers said three firms responded to requests for bids. Two of them responded and opted out; the third, Roth & White accounting service offered a bid.
The PSD has worked with Roth & White for years, Moyers said, and do their work on site, so records never leave the office. The board approved hiring Roth & White for Fiscal Year 2020 through FY 2022.
The final item on the agenda involved operations and the COVID-19 pandemic. Moyers reiterated that customers can pay their bills five different ways: via the dropbox at their office; at Capon Valley Bank; by telephone; by direct deposit; and online at the PSD’s website.
There was no new business, and no public comments. The next meeting is Sept. 2 at 4:30 p.m., with the option to call in. Please contact the PSD office at 304-530-3048 with questions.