Fayette County delays public hearing on sale/dissolution of wastewater PSDs after Region 4 briefing

FAYETTE COUNTY, W.Va. — The Fayette County Commission postponed a scheduled public hearing on the proposed dissolution and sale of several local public service districts, including Page Kincaid and Kanawha Falls, and asked the county administrator to re-notice the hearing pending further contract information.

A commissioner moved to postpone the 9:30 a.m. hearing to June 25, saying contract negotiations with West Virginia American Water were still in progress and more information had become available that the commission needed to consider. The mover also reserved the right to discuss the matter in executive session after receiving legal updates.

Nut graf: The delay follows a presentation from Region 4, the regional planning and development council that serves Fayette and four other counties, which briefed the commission on its grant and loan administration work, regional infrastructure projects and how public service districts (PSDs) operate when partnered with investor-owned utilities.

Leslie Taylor, representing Region 4, told the commission the regional council helps local governments pursue federal and state funding, manage infrastructure projects and plan for economic development. She told commissioners Region 4 is administering 22 projects in Fayette County with a combined cost of roughly $82 million and has 14 projects in development estimated at $56 million. “We help local governments, nonprofits and other organizations apply for advantage state and federal grant loan funds,” she said.

Region 4 staff explained the distinction between PSDs that operate independently and PSDs that enter a public‑private partnership with a utility such as West Virginia American Water. The New Haven PSD model — where the PSD owns assets and the utility contracts to operate and maintain them — was cited as an example that has expanded service into previously unserved areas.

Commissioners discussed whether a regional PSD model could help bring water service to the roughly one-third of county residents the presenter said lack access to public water. Commissioners and staff also noted ongoing contract negotiations with West Virginia American Water and said they wanted legal counsel to review outstanding terms before holding the hearing.

Ending: The commission voted to postpone the hearing, to be re-noticed by the county administrator, and directed staff and counsel to continue contract negotiations with West Virginia American Water and to provide additional contract information to the board before reconvening the public hearing.