WELLSBURG — The Brooke County Commission on Tuesday was asked about a proposed merger between the Brooke County, Hammond and Washington Pike public service districts and the next phase of the Eldersville Road sewer project.

The commissioners confirmed the proposed merger will be discussed at a meeting at 6:30 p.m. today at the Brooke County PSD’s office at 711 Charles St.

Resident Kenny Fletcher of Wellsburg asked if the move was intended to help one financially struggling district and told it was not.

County Commissioner Stacey Wise said representatives of each of the three districts have approached the commission about the merger, adding a larger district with more customers could be more eligible for grants for future projects.

County Commissioner Jim Andreozzi said he would support a merger if it would allow more residents to receive service and that service was efficient and affordable.

Fletcher asked if the merger would result in a rate increase for customers.

Wise said there’s been no talk of a rate increase in connection with the proposed merger.

The Hammond and Washington Pike districts requested, and were granted, rate increases from the West Virginia Public Service District earlier this year, while the Brooke County district is in the process of seeking a rate increase.

Under state law, a merger of public service districts may be ordered by the state Public Service Commission or a county commission if it’s found to be “conducive to the preservation of public health, comfort and convenience” of the area to be served.

The county commission must hold a public hearing on a proposed merger between 20 and 40 days before it intends to approve it, and the merger must also be approved by the state Public Service Commission.

In related business, David Dulaney, a resident of St. John’s Road, told the commission he learned the Brooke County PSD has completed the second phase of the Eldersville Road sewer project and asked if he and other unserved residents on the road will be served.

Recently Barbara Zimnox, a community development specialist with the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, told commissioners the project’s second phase was nearly complete.

The $1.7 million project involves the extension of sewer lines to more than 100 customers in the Eldersville Road area between Peacock Lane and Boyd Road and the Cross Creek area, including the community of Louise. It was funded by a $1.5 million federal Small Cities Block Grant and 30-year state loan.

Zimnox said once the project is officially closed, the district may apply for another Small Cities Block Grant for other unserved areas. But she added it will be more difficult to secure it because at least 51 percent of the population served by the project must have low to moderate incomes.

Despite that, the commissioners said they are hopeful funds can be secured for other unserved areas.

“Our goal is to have everybody in this county served with water and sewer,” said Andreozzi.

Commission President Tim Ennis said because preliminary engineering has been done for St. John’s Road, it’s likely to be funded before other projects when money becomes available.

Sewer lines were extended to part of St. John’s Road as well as Mahan Lane and Eldersville Road in the project’s first phase. It was funded by a $9.8 million grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency and a $2.5 million loan and $775,000 grant from the state Infrastructure Development and Job Council.

Dulaney said many St. John’s Road residents not yet served strongly want the service and he has collected signatures of support from many.

In other business, Pat Ford of the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle presented to the county commissioners a framed photo of the groundbreaking for the new pool at Brooke Hills Park and three shovels to commemorate the occasion.

Janice McFadden, the park’s manager, thanked Ford for assisting the park board in selecting the Larson Design Group to plan the pool and other additions to the park.

She said ground work has begun for the pool and the board will meet soon to discuss the planned addition of cabins using a $55,000 grant from the Charles and Thelma Pugliese Foundation and other funds.

“Everything looks good. We have a bright future and lots of things coming for spring 2017,” McFadden said.

Park board member Paul “Bud” Billiard said with the slower seasons of fall and winter coming, the board can focus on such additions as a foot golf course, paintball arena and facilities for tennis, badminton, paddle ball and pickle ball using the park’s basketball court.

He noted a concert benefitting Brooke Hills Playhouse and featuring the Ron Retzer Trio and Legend will be held there at 6 p.m. Sept. 24. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the park’s clubhouse or calling (304) 737-3344, 737-1236 or 737-1032.

The commissioners also took time Tuesday to remember Pete Lallone, who died on Saturday at the age of 93.

A World War II veteran, Lallone received Belgium’s Fourragere and U.S. military honors for his part in defending the country against Nazi invaders as member of the Army’s 743rd Tank Battalion in the Battle of the Bulge. He was captured by the Germans and served in a POW camp near Russia for 5 and a half months.

Ennis noted Lallone and his brother, Frank, owned and operated a gas station and garage in Wellsburg for many years.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)