Hancock County Commissioners approved $50,000.00 in funding to both the Tomlinson Public Service District and Hancock Public Service District at their May 27th meeting. The $100,000.00 in funding will be used as a required local match to $50,000.00 each PSD is seeking in grant funds from the West Virginia Infrastructure & Jobs Council. The grants will be used to explore the feasibility of the Tomlinson PSD and Hancock PSD taking over the Newell Company water and sewage.
The Newell Company has filed a petition with the West Virginia Public Service Commission for a determination that the Newell Company, is a “distressed” or “failing” utility as defined by the WV Code. The petition requests that both Tomlinson PSD and Hancock PSD purchase and take over the water and wastewater assets of the Newell Company in
The Newell Company lists its largest customer as Homer Laughlin for both water and sewage. The Company has 425 water/sewage customers and 647 water customers. Homer Laughlin is counted as only one customer in both water and sewage numbers. In a 2019 report to the WV PSD, the Newell Company indicated that 52 % of its revenue in the water company is derived from industrial customers while 43% comes from residential customers.
Commissioners tabled an agreement with the Hancock County Board of Education for the Prevention Resource Officer Program for FY 21/22 until more information is received from the Board of Education.
A funding request from the Weirton Board of Parks & Recreation for $20,000.00 was made a matter of record. The Park Board has outlined more than $4 million of upgrades to its facilities and is seeking funding from a variety of sources including the City of Weirton, Community Development Block Grants, State of West Virginia and grant foundations. The projects include the repair of the south wall of the Millsop Community Center, repurposing of the Margaret Manson Weir Memorial Pool, playing surfaces upgrades for the Edwin J. Bowman Field, new water slides at the Starvaggi Pool, resurfacing of the Panhandle Rail Trail and upgrades to playground facilities.
In other business, the Commissioners:
**Agreed to advertise for an open position on the Tomlinson PSD;
**Agreed to advertise for an open position on the Hancock County Parks & Recreation Board. The candidate can be from either Grant, Clay or Butler District;
**Approved Phase 2 of courthouse masonry repairs;
**Accepted the resignation of Becky Wiegers from the WVU Extension Office;
**Agreed to advertise for a part-time office assistant for the WVU Extension Office;
**Accepted the resignation of Ann Bailey from the WVU Extension Office;
**Agreed to advertise for a part-time Agricultural and Natural Resources Program Assistant;
**Hired Mackenzie Elliott as a part-time dispatcher.
**Sent a letter to the WV Alcohol Beverage Control Administration that they have been notified of a Hillbilly Hoedown on the Creek being held August 13,14 & 15 at the Get Togethers Picnic Ground, Kings Creek, Weirton. The event is sponsored by Misty Ash doing business as Shooterz. The letter said the Commission is not aware of any restrictions that would prevent the event as described and therefore has no objections to it
