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Buckhannon schedules Sept. 4 hearing on $6M bond anticipation note as city advances $33M water plant plan
Summary
The Buckhannon City Council set a Sept. 4 public hearing on a proposed Water Revenue Bond Anticipation Note of up to $6 million to fund preconstruction work for a planned $33 million water treatment plant; the city's FAQ estimates total project costs at about $47.3 million and projects a roughly 62% increase in average water bills over time.
The Buckhannon City Council set a public hearing for Sept. 4, 2025, on a proposed Water Revenue Bond Anticipation Note (Series 2025) of up to $6 million to finance preconstruction activities for a planned new water treatment plant.
The notice, presented by City Recorder Randy Sanders and Director of Finance Amberle Jenkins, says proceeds would cover design, property acquisition and other preconstruction costs while the city seeks long-term loans and grants to permanently finance the project. The city issued an RFP to financial institutions seeking proposals to purchase the note; the city states interest will be paid from surplus revenues of the water system and principal will be repaid from future long-term financing or committed grant funds.
The city also published a project FAQ that lays out the broader financing plan and the scale of the undertaking. According to the FAQ, the proposed new water treatment plant would cost about $33 million, with an additional $5.5 million in pipeline upgrades and other project-related costs that bring the city’s current estimate to roughly $47.3 million in total. The FAQ describes an assumed funding mix of about $13 million in grants and $34.3 million in loans from sources such as the USDA, the WV Department of Environmental Protection Fund and the WV Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council.
The FAQ says the city expects a phased rate increase tied to the project, projecting a total increase of approximately 62% that would raise the average monthly bill from about $27.26 to $44.14 (based on 3,400 gallons). The document says the increases would likely be rolled out in two or three smaller steps, with the first increase expected within about six to eight months to cover interest on interim financing.
City officials said design work is expected to take roughly two years, with construction to begin after design and funding are in place. The FAQ notes that the Asset Management Plan and other required materials are being prepared to support state and federal funding applications. The city will hold the Sept. 4 hearing in Council Chambers, 70 East Main Street, to receive public input before final action on the ordinance authorizing the bond anticipation note.
