GARY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A McDowell County town with long running sewer problems was told Friday to meet with staff of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia to break a deadlock over management of its sewer utility.
The original case against the City of Gary was filed in 2022. The Commission reiterated its decision that the town and the McDowell County Public Service District reach a compromise with the aid of Commission staff. U.S. Steel constructed the 400-customer system 60 years ago.
On March 18, 2024, the Commission determined Gary was a distressed utility and ordered it to enter into an operation and management (O&M) agreement for the district to assist in resolving problems with its system. Among numerous concerns, the decision said Gary has been operating under sewer rates adopted in 2014 and that the city owes the McDowell PSD approximately $110,000. The system experienced numerous line breaks allowing sewage to flow into the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River
In July, Gary submitted a letter that the district would negotiate if Gary’s water system was included in any agreement. The district responded in August with several issues, including Gary City Council’s concern of the impact of a rate increase as a result of an agreement. Talks stalled after that and a deadline of September 16, 2024, for an O&M agreement to be presented to the Commission came without action.
“The parties need to get back to the table and develop an O&M agreement to be filed for Commission consideration,” the PSC ruled. The Commission said the two sides must meet with an advisory team from the PSC within 15 days to resume negotiations.
If no agreement is reached within 150 days, each side was told to file its own O&M agreement for the Commission review.
More information on this case can be found on the PSC website: www.psc.state.wv.us. Click on “Case Information” and access Case No. 22-1083-S-DU.
