Unwilling to wait two or three years for state funding to replace its aging water filtration plant, the Keyser City Council voted unanimously Monday night to seek alternative private sources of funding for the $9 million project.
While state funds would likely be provided at a lower interest rate, a years-long delay would drive up costs through inflation, offsetting savings on interest rates. In discussing the backlog of projects awaiting state funding at a meeting last week, officials noted a recent project in Petersburg where time-related overruns added $3 million to the cost of a sewer project.
“That’s why we’re saying we want to look at an alternative,” said Councilman Dave Sowers.
Up to this point the city has been working primarily with the Morgantown-based financing company, Crews & Associates. Prior to the vote, however, a representative of Edward Jones investment company in LaVale, Md. appeared before the council and offered his firm‘s services in financing the debt for the project.
City council members welcomed the company’s interest and provided contact information for submitting a financing proposal.
In addition to the filtration plant, the $9 million price tag would cover the cost of other water-related work, including repairs on the water storage tank at Potomac State College and a water line project on Limestone Road.
Officials don’t know how much of the other work can be completed, though, until a firm price is established for the plant replacement.
In other business, representatives of the Keyser EMS squad appeared before the city council, appealing for funding support and help with fuel expenses.
Judy Bush, director of the squad, asked the council to release a donation earmarked in the current budget but not yet provided to the ambulance service. She said ongoing financial problems at the squad have not yet been resolved.
“It was looking up for a while, now it’s not looking good,” she said. “Insurance companies just aren’t paying.”
In addition, the service is being battered by higher fuel costs, prompting Bush to seek a fuel allocation or other assistance from the city. “We’ve probably more than doubled our fuel costs,” she said. “It’s killing us.”
Bush said the squad has six full time paid members and four part time. Describing a “Catch 22,” she said the squad tried to address its problems by reducing paid staff, but then was unable to answer calls. “We tried cutting down the paid staff, and in one day we had seven scratches,” she said.
Mayor Glen Shumaker said the city’s accountant would be contacted to release the annual allocation. “You all are a valuable part of the community and we appreciate what you do,” he said.
The City Council also moved to address a retaining wall that is in danger of collapsing into the Goodwill building. Although no formal action was taken, council members indicated they would probably temporarily close the alley to allow the property owner to repair the wall. Councilman Sowers said he had contacted residents in the area, and none opposed the alley’s closure.
At Sower’s suggestion, the City Council also moved to dispose of surplus property, including a 1996 Chevrolet, a 1990 Ford Truck, a 1986 bucket truck, a John Deere tractor and a salt spreader. All of the items are either old or in need of repair. They will be advertised individually for sale to the highest bidder.
Sowers said he wasn’t through scouring city garages for other items that aren’t being used, but might be able to be sold. “There might be some other stuff,” he said.
The next City Council meeting will be Monday, Aug. 25, however, the time has been changed from 4 p.m. to 4:30 to accommodate the work schedule of Councilman Jim Endler.
KEYSER, W.Va. —
