Aug. 27—MORGANTOWN — When the Monongalia County Commission first got wind of sanitary sewer issues in Blacksville, the situation was dire.
Dire as in the mayor and town council ready to sign letters of resignation and walk away.
So, the commission tapped Blacksville area local, and state delegate, Joe Statler to take a look.
During a Wednesday work session, Statler laid out a few things he is sure of at this point.
One, the town’s leadership remains intact and has been forthcoming to the best of its ability with any and all information requested.
Two, the system, while compromised, has a competent operator, continues to run and isn’t discharging into any waterways.
Three, there are a lot of problems — both known and unknown — and very little money.
According to the West Virginia State Auditor’s website, Blacksville has a budget of around $100, 000 for the current fiscal year.
Statler said Blacksville currently owes the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection about $26, 000 in fines that will have to be addressed before the town would be able to seek any grant support from the state for system upgrades.
Among the initial observations, Statler continued, is that there are billing issues and an inability to shut off service for lack of payment. This has allowed some customers to pile up massive unpaid sewer bills.
Further, the system was designed and built without manholes, making it all but impossible to isolate and test specific lines.
There’s also no definitive map of the system.
“Nobody knows where the as-built drawings are. So, you’re basically using a lot of the older people in the area, saying, ‘Well, I remember they dug over there, and they put the system in over there.’ That’s fine, but we’re all getting older. When we die, that knowledge goes with us, ” Statler said.
Heavy rains this summer have overwhelmed collection tanks as well as the system’s pumps. When the power is knocked out, the pumps have no generator backup.
Statler said an obvious first step would be to hire an engineer to study the condition of the system and break down what improvements are needed.
That’s going to take money.
The town is currently in the process of raising its sewer rates — from $33 to $46 a month, according to Statler.
There’s even been talk of Home Rule and a 1 % sales tax, but it’s questionable whether such a tax would generate any significant revenue.
Monongalia County Commissioner Tom Bloom said he would like to see the Monongalia County Board of Education come to the table as well.
“I’d like them to be a part of the financial solution since they are probably one of the biggest contributors, ” Bloom said, explaining the BOE could at least assist by agreeing to regularly pump out the holding tank at Clay-Battelle High School to alleviate some pressure on the system.
Statler said he’s working with Blacksville and various other entities to attack the problem one step at a time.
“They’ve got a multitude of issues and problems that we’re starting to work on. But what I need you guys to know is we may need some short-term money, ” Statler said. “The first thing you’ve gotta do is you’ve got to have money for a study.”
The commission seemed agreeable to providing some initial funding — $30, 000 was a number mentioned but not confirmed. Statler said he would look into directing LEDA, or Legislative Economic Development Assistance, dollars to assist with the effort.
Once a study is conducted and the findings are delivered comes the question of how to finance the actual construction of system improvements.
In addition to running down grants, Statler said the town will likely need to find a way to finance some of that work.
“It’s like I said to them, if you’re at the bottom of the ocean and it costs you a million dollars to get to the top, what do you do ? You spend a million dollars or you drown. You have no other choice, ” Statler said. “They’re at that point.”