Weirton Water project clears state hurdle
Residents challenge plans, potential rate hike
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WEIRTON - While not on the agenda Monday, Weirton's water issues continued to be a focus at Monday's city council meeting, both with residents expressing their frustrations and officials noting the overcoming of an early hurdle in getting a line replacement project ordered by the state underway.
During its Sept. 2 meeting, the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council gave its blessing for an approximately $39 million cast iron and galvanized line replacement project to move forward.
"It is reasonable and fundable," Utilities Director A.D. "Butch" Mastrantoni said Monday.
The project had received a recommendation from the IJDC's Technical Review and Funding Committee in July, with a final decision by the full committee originally set to be considered in August. That decision was put off after the IJDC received comments from citizens, including Ward 5 Councilwoman Brittany Holloway.
Some citizens who spoke before council Monday thanked Holloway, alleging the process and plans were being hidden.
"Had she not made those efforts, the public wouldn't know about it," resident David Klar said, also pointing to a need for a public hearing on the proposal.
Mastrantoni, though, said the required public hearing was held in March, following city council's regular meeting.
Resident Tiffany Gale cautioned against a reported 68 percent rate increase, pointing to the impact on residents, with a particular concern for those already struggling financially.
"Water infrastructure matters, but so do the people who live here," she said.
Resident Chris Gruda, meanwhile, pledged to continue his efforts on the matter, with him and others saying they feel there are local workers and engineers who can do the necessary work at a lower cost to the public.
Gruda also noted Del. Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, had requested a decision on the project be put on hold, but to no avail.
"We can still stop it," Gruda said. "We will stop the rate increase."
Holloway explained she had sent the letter because she had questions about the project and had even requested a workshop between city council and the Water Board.
"I read the PER (Preliminary Engineering Report), and I had my own concerns with the specific project that was chosen," Holloway said.
The $39 million project focuses on an area of the city referred to in documents as "Downtown North."
City Manager Mike Adams pointed out this does not refer to the area of North Weirton, as some have speculated on social media.
"That's a misconception. It's not North Weirton," Adams said, with he and Mastrantoni both explaining the district surrounds the area of downtown Weirton between Virginia Avenue and Mildren Avenue. That area includes service for approximately 2,850 water customers, according to documents filed with the IJDC.
Mastrantoni explained that while there are plans to replace the cast iron and galvanized lines throughout the city as part of the mandate from the West Virginia Public Service Commission, the $39 million project focuses on the area where surveys have shown the larger concentration of line breaks taking place.
"They focused on the worst first," Mastrantoni said.
Plans would be for construction on this project to take place in 2028 and 2029.
The Weirton Area Water Board has proposed funding the project with a $10 million Congressionally Directed Spending grant, an $18.97 million loan through the Water Infrastructure Financing Innovation Act, a $500,000 loan from the IJDC, a $4.25 million loan from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund, a $500,000 Green Project Grant from the DWTRF for energy savings and an additional $500,000 Green Project Grant for water savings.
Ward 4 Councilman Rick Stead also pointed out the 68 percent increase being discussed is a worst-case scenario, to be used only in the event additional funding sources are not found.
"I think that's what people aren't understanding," Stead said.
Mastrantoni agreed, saying similar approaches were taken for the treatment capacity expansion at the water treatment plant, where a 72 percent increase had been approved, but in the end, they only needed a total 30 percent increase.
Mastrantoni also said Thrasher and the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission already are in the process of seeking and applying for grants and loans to cover as much of the project costs as possible.
"This isn't the first time we've done this," Mastrantoni said. "We're following the same formula that's brought us success in the past."
Mayor Dean Harris, in closing Monday's meeting, reiterated the need for the line replacement project wasn't something sought by city council. The city and the Water Board were ordered to undertake the project and given a five-year deadline by the West Virginia Public Service Commission as a result of an investigation performed by the state agency into numerous water line breaks in late 2024 and early 2025, which resulted in a weeks-long conservation order.
Approvals for how the project moves forward have to go through the PSC, officials noted.