The Fayette Tribune, Oak Hill, W.Va.

Local News

August 6, 2008

Fayetteville water vote scheduled for this Saturday

By Matthew Hill

The fate of Fayetteville’s water and sewer systems will be determined Saturday by voters in the Fayette County seat.

Early voting on the proposed sale of the systems to West Virginia American Water Co. began July 28 and ran through Wednesday. The special election is slated for Saturday at Fayetteville Town Hall.

According to the contract, West Virginia American will pay about $3.9 million to the town for its sewer and water systems, which would eliminate Fayetteville’s related debt, officials said.

Additionally, the company would invest at least $2.7 million in water system improvements and $1.5 million in sewer system upgrades in the first five years after the would-be sale.

West Virginia American will also pay for the cost of Saturday’s election and will reimburse the town up to $25,000 for legal and accounting fees incurred by the town during negotiations, a company spokesperson said in May.

City officials have also negotiated a discount from West Virginia American’s water rates for the next four years and from its sewer rates for the next two years if the sale is approved by voters.

If the sale fails to meet with the approval of Fayetteville voters, the mayor asserted that the city’s accountant predicts that water rates would increase by 25 to 30 percent and sewer rates would spike by about 13 percent immediately.

For more information on the proposed sale or on the voting process, visit Fayetteville Town Hall or call 304-574-0101.

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