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Philadelphia, Valley Grove officials ask Wheeling to consider adjusting disaster-related water charges
Summary
Officials from the Town of Philadelphia and Valley Grove described extensive flood damage and asked Wheeling City Council to consider financial relief or equipment loans to address unusually high water bills and lost infrastructure following a natural disaster.
Tom Hoffman, a councilman from the town of Philadelphia, told the Wheeling City Council on July 1 that a recent natural disaster destroyed or severely damaged many homes in Philadelphia and Valley Grove and left residents facing unusually large water bills.
Hoffman said residents used city water for cleanup and for contractors and volunteers who arrived from other states, and he described one example of a displaced resident facing an $1,800 water bill. “The regular bill, we have no problem with. But just the revenue that it's gonna come that to to pay for all that ... The overage ... is gonna be pretty high,” Hoffman said.
City Manager Mr. Heron responded that Wheeling is a regulated utility and offered to meet with Philadelphia leaders to review the bills once the city receives them. “As long as we have the authority to do it, we can hopefully negotiate a, you know, favorable, adjustment,” Mr. Heron said, while warning that the West Virginia Public Service Commission has intervened in past similar adjustments.
Hoffman also asked whether the city could loan a dump truck and a bobcat to help cleanup and said Philadelphia's water department has lost trucks and equipment. Mary Anne Hess, identified in the meeting as the town recorder, joined Hoffman in urging financial help for the water overages and in describing widespread community volunteering and rescue efforts.
Mayor McGruder noted that the city of Wheeling sells water to Philadelphia and Valley Grove, which is the reason the town officials addressed council. The mayor and other council members expressed sympathy and said city staff would follow up.
Discussion-only and next steps: Mr. Heron said he would sit down with Philadelphia officials to review bills and explore adjustments “as long as we have the authority to do it.” He cautioned that any favorable adjustment might later be reviewed by the Public Service Commission. Council did not take a formal vote on relief during the July 1 meeting.
Background and context: The visitors described a disaster they characterized as a natural disaster worse than a routine flood, including homes swept away and multiple fatalities in the broader area they discussed. Hoffman said outside volunteers used Wheeling water supplies for cleanup and that Philadelphia anticipates losing 15 to 20 percent of revenue because many residents will not return.
What to expect next: City staff and Philadelphia officials agreed to meet to review bills and explore options; any billing adjustments may require additional approvals or could be subject to review by the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
