By Stephen Smoot
On a crowded agenda, the recent series of water and related crises experienced by the Town of Lumberport loomed largest. Some frustrated citizens of the municipality even advocated to dissolve the town government in the face of mounting challenges to its administration.
Patsy Trecost, Harrison County Commissioner, gave the invocation, praying “Heavenly Father, we ask forgiveness for our sins . . . we thank You. We praise You.”
Commissioners then led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Multiple individuals appeared to participate in the public comment period to open the meeting. Leigh Ann Holt spoke first about the state of public water in the Town of Lumberport. She shared that “it is brown. It is green. It is not drinkable.” Holt then stated that officials found water at the elementary school “good to drink.”
She also described an issue where runoff from the area slurry pond has gotten into a local stream, stating that the problem has killed fish and threatened sources of drinking water.
The problem, Holt explained, is that “we have water leaks left and right from the pipes being so old.” She requested county assistance to help to pay for repairs, saying “we need drinking water. We need help.”
Betty O’Dell also came to discuss Lumberport infrastructure issues, but focused on “help with our storm drain on Main Street.” Jacqueline Yeager followed O’Dell and reminded the Commission that “we still have a sewage smell situation.”
Yeager shared that solving the water and sewer issues for Lumberport leads to “increasing rates, increasing taxes, increasing everything.” The municipality’s problems, the former mayor explained “have been going on for years.” She also raised the issue of “dilapidated buildings” in town, as well as the potential threat of the combined issues on property values.
She, regretfully, posed the question “is it time to look into folding the Town of Lumberport?”
Shannon Lopez, Town Recorder for Lumberport, then gave a different perspective, describing the progress made in bringing needed repairs and maintenance to the system in a series of phases. Lopez stated that, working in conjunction with state agencies and Thrasher, the project would soon enter Phase II.
The ultimate goal lies in getting reliable sources of water for the Town. She defended the water quality available, admitting it was not the best, but stating that “our water does meet the standards of the government.”
Later in the meeting, Commissioners debated the best approach to supporting Lumberport’s efforts in restoring adequate water and sewer service.
Trecost proposed using some of what he described as a $2.6 million carryover in the general fund. The money would help to extend service to Lumberport from the Enlarged Hepzibah Public District. He explained that, likely, the Sun Valley Public Service District would absorb all of those areas eventually saying that “Sun Valley has a plan in place in case the opportunity comes up.”
That carryover came from budget funds that rolled over from 2023 to 2024 but did not get discovered until last spring. Laura Pysz-Laulis, Harrison County administrator, said it was categorized as “transfer to other until we figure out what to do with it.”
Commissioners Trecost and David Hinkle then debated the proposal between themselves at length. Hinkle asked if the funds proposed by Trecost had been “pledged to anything else.” He raised objections to providing funds and asking if the Town of Lumberport council had agreed to the idea.
Trecost stated that, given the generally slow speed of government progress in any field, that efforts to bring about that outcome should start as soon as possible.
Hinkle replied that “we don’t know what we’re spending it on. You don’t have a plan. That’s typical of you spending money . . . Commissioner Trecost as usual will be giving away money with no plan.”
The debate between Hinkle and Trecost intensified until Susan Thomas, Harrison County Commission President, ordered both parties to put an end to it. She then stated “I want to help Lumberport. I have to have some information. I think we do need a plan. Lumberport undoubtedly needs help.”
Trey Simmerman, who serves as both attorney for Harrison County and also the Town of Lumberport, interjected that, in response to Hinkle’s question about whether Lumberport applied for State aid, that the town must submit its annual reports to be eligible to apply.
He added that Lumberport faces similar issues on this as many other similar sized communities across the state and explained that they need help to both get caught up and to also establish protocols to prevent the problem going forward.
Hinkle mentioned that the county had provided funds to Lumberport in the past. The discussion at that point started as one about a loan, but the Commission later decided to grant it to the Town. Laura Pysz-Laulis, Harrison County administrator, stated that the Commission voted to give them the money, but that she thought that the Town never sent a requisition for it.
It was generally agreed that these funds could help with the immediate issue of getting Lumberport’s paperwork in order.
Thomas called for a vote on the Trecost motion and it failed two to one. Hinkle then suggested that all parties involved, including the Town of Lumberport, City of Shinnston, Sun Valley PSD and others come “to the table” to discuss the future of the area’s water and sewer.
“I agree,” stated Thomas.
In other business, Commissioners agreed to extend the tax increment financing district for White Oak an additional 15 years to 2052. No one appeared to oppose it and Woody Thrasher spoke in favor. Hinkle spoke to clarify that this represented an application, not the close of the deal.
Commissioners also voted two to one against using OPEB back up retirement funds to replace two elevators. Thomas reiterated her opposition to tapping OPEB for other purposes, but stated that she supported replacing them, just not from that funding source. Pysz-Laulis told the Commission that “we’re looking at different avenues” to pay for that work.