Hancock County Commissioners heard from Scott Murray, manager project development of Tenaska, at its June 12th meeting. Murray told that the company is preparing to drill a test well in the vicinity of Murray Road and Washington School Road. The test well will determine geological conditions to assess if the area is appropriate for a carbon-capture well. Tenaska has signed on two properties for potential wells, although they decline to provide the names of the property owners.
Murray said Tenaska’s Tri-State Hub includes Ohio, PA. and West Virginia with six counties involved in the tri-state hub. Tenaska is based in Omaha, Nebraska develops Carbon-Capture and Storage facilities in the Appalachian Basin. The project is anticipated to develop, construct and operate 22 CCS sites across the six counties.
According to material provided by company, Tenaska, the CCS Hub will be a “catalyst for economic growth in the region, generating substantial benefits during the construction and operational phases.” The hand-out shows three wells in Hancock County with an average employment of 184, labor income of $22.1 million and select tax revenue of $7.9 million.
Murray said that the WV DEP is in charge of ensuring the company go through all the steps of compliance and construction of the wells is several years out. He noted a public hearing is one of the steps required. Those having questions can schedule an appointment with Tenaska’s local representative Ben Keeler who is in the Weirton office on Thursdays. Keeler can be reached at 330-934-4155 or at community @tristateccs.com.
In other business, the Commissioners:
**Heard from Commissioner Tommy Ogden that tapes had been reviewed from a situation which occurred in the lobby and outside the courthouse and there would be no disciplinary action taken;
**Made a letter from the Northern Panhandle Home Consortium asking for the County’s involvement a matter of record;
**Received a letter from the Northern Panhandle Community Criminal Justice Board withdrawing their FY budget request in the amount of $214,687.84. The letter notes that Hancock County has been a steady supporter of the Board for the past 24 years and in light of the County’s current budget situation they will continue to provide services, but are not asking the County to contribute.
**Voted to advertise for a Northern Panhandle Workforce Development Board position;
**Reappointed John Sorrenti and Bill Tice to the Northern Panhandle Workforce Development Board:
**Hired Tom Volberg for seasonal temporary, part-time, assistant maintenance technician;
**Moved $25,000.00 from the Tomlinson PSD Rt 2 Water Project to the Oakland PSD Water Systems Water Improvement Project;
**Approved AST (Advanced Securities Technology) panic alarm maintenance agreement and security camera maintenance agreement;
**Approved the promotion of Teresa Cain from Office Assistant to Office Administrator along with a $1,500 per annum raise;
**Approved the hiring of Owen Purcell as a summer intern;
**Hired Mary Close as a deputy clerk in the Circuit Clerk’s Office;
