County rejects offer to buy out water systems

LOGAN COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) — Commissioners in Logan County unanimously rejected West Virginia American Water’s offer to buy the county’s two public water systems.

Commission President Diana Barnette said, “The taxpayers and constituents of Logan County said in a loud voice, they wanted to keep their PSD’s, they didn’t want American Water in here, they didn’t want any outside company coming in. They wanted to keep local control.”

“I mean there’s people who can’t afford them high bills,” Frank Codispoti said.

Codispoti is one of many, pushing to keep the water in county control.

“You get a 200, 300 dollar water bill, you gotta pay it or they’re gonna shut you off. You’ll be taking a bath over in the Guyandotte River.”

Barnette said to fix issues found by American Water before the proposal, the Logan County PSD has a five-year plan, while taking control of Buffalo Creek PSD. She said fixing the problems will lead to higher rates.

“We didn’t take rate increases when we should’ve taken rate increases for years and years and years, so we know that’s what happened, but you know we’ll fix that.”

Codispoti said, “We’re gonna get a little pay increase and they deserve it, you know to help fund it and get it back up.”

Barnette said if the problems can’t be fixed, they may go back to the company, but neighbors believe it can be done.

“It feels real good that people stuck together and the county commissioners done their job, they done what the will of the people wanted, they didn’t want this water system sold,” Codispoti said.

Commissioners said they wanted to give the county a second chance, and work is already being done to repair Buffalo Creek’s sewage treatment plant and replacing the aging infrastructure.

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