SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2007

 

PRESENT:                 W. SCOTT BIAS, PRESIDENT

                                    ROBERT L. BAILEY, COMMISSIONER

                                    NANCY CARTMILL, COMMISSIONER

                                    WILLIAM T. WATSON, COUNTY ATTORNEY

                                    STEPHEN ZOELLER, COUNTY MANAGER

                                    SHARON ROSS, ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER

                                    FOR BILLABLES AND PAYABLES

                                    CHRIS TATUM, ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER

                                    FOR PERSONNEL AND PURCHASING

 

W. Scott Bias, President, called the Special Commission Meeting to order at 11:00 a.m.

 

#007                            DISCUSSION/ACTION:

 

                                    RE:  PROPOSED MERGER OF CABELL COUNTY’S

                                             SEWER PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICTS 

 

W. Scott Bias, President, stated the purpose of the meeting was to consider a resolution to possibly pursue the merger of the Pea Ridge, Culloden and Salt Rock Public Sewer Districts.  President Bias further stated there would be a public hearing for public response.

 

Mr. Harold Fannin, county resident, asked if there would be a feasibility study.

 

Nick Ciccarello, Compliance Officer, explained that once the Commission approves the order, it goes to the Public Service Commission.  Mr. Ciccarello stated that after the public hearing, the Public Service Commission would then send a team of financial advisors and engineers who would do a comprehensive study.

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, stated she would like to see a feasibility study and a financial analyst by someone other then the Public Service Commission.

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, stated he believed by merging the Public Sewer Service Districts in Cabell County it would save the taxpayers money and reduce their sewer bills, perhaps not at first, but at a later date.

 

Commissioner Cartmill stated she did not believe the merging of service districts would reduce the sewer rates because of the indebtedness of Salt Rock and Pea Ridge.  Commissioner Cartmill further stated that the rates were tied into the amount of money borrowed and the existing rates would probably continue until the bonds were paid.

 

W. Scott Bias, President, stated he believed that until the studies were completed, it could not be determined if this would be beneficial. 

 

Robert Maslowski, Milton resident, asked why Milton was not included in this merger and President Bias informed Mr. Maslowski that it would be up to the City of Milton to make that decision. 

THURSDAY, JANUARY, 16, 2007

PAGE TWO

 

                                    A RESOLUTION AND ORDER PROPOSING THE MERGER

                                    OF THE SEWER SERVICE AUTHORITY OF CULLODEN

                                    PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT AND SALT ROCK SEWER                                           PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT INTO PEA RIDGE PUBLIC

SERVICE DISTRICT AND PROPOSING THE       ENLARGEMENT OF THE POST-MERGER PEA RIDGE

                                    PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT AND FIXING A DATE OF

                                    HEARING ON THE PROPOSED MERGER AND

                                    ENLARGEMENT AND PROVIDING FOR NOTICE OF

                                    SUCH HEARING

                                   

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to sign the resolution to proceed to investigate a possible merger of the Culloden, Salt Rock and Pea Ridge Public Sewer Districts.  W. Scott Bias, President seconded the motion.

 

After a discussion on the private facilities not being included in the merger, Commissioner Bailey called for a question on the motion. 

 

President Bias stated that a question on the motion had been called for, but first the Commission would vote to stop the discussion and the vote was unanimous. 

 

President Bias called for a vote on the motion to proceed with a public hearing regarding the merger and the vote was as follows:

 

                                    W. Scott Bias, President                                aye

                                    Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner                  aye

                                    Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner                     nay

                                               

W. Scott Bias, President, stated the public hearing would be held Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.

 

W. Scott Bias, President, adjourned the special meeting at 11:15 a.m., until the next scheduled meeting on Thursday, January 25, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                            __________________________________________

                                                                  PRESIDENT, COUNTY COMMISSION 

 

 

KSC:ar