With more conversations and questions coming into play about Pocahontas Memorial Hospital’s need for replacement of their waste-water treatment plant and why it is that the Town of Marlinton is involved.
Some ask me why the Town should be involved and/or why would the Town wants to be involved.
First of all, I have gone through the same conversations with three CEOs at PMH. Each CEO has expressed that they do not want to be in the water or sewer business. The Town’s interest has been in the water system only, until more recently.
Contrary to what some say, the possibility of losing the Marlinton Elementary School at its present location was a real possibility in the summer of 2017. I met with then Governor Justice, at his office at the Greenbrier Hotel. Among other things, I expressed my concern to him about the loss of the MES in our downtown. I felt the loss of the kids in town would pull much of the heart out of the downtown community. As if that were not significant enough, it would ultimately have a negative economic impact on the Town’s water and sewer utility operations.
At that time, the numbers showed the loss of the school as a water-sewer customer would need 51 new residential homes to offset the loss in revenue.
How likely was that to happen. This was the 2017-2019/20 timeframe.
Then December 20, 2021, a meeting was held at the commission office with the Pocahontas County Commission, Potesta Engineers and the Pocahontas Public Service District.
I voiced that the Town’s concern was always about maintaining community and economic development. But, in this instance, keeping MES as a water customer was a major issue, and still is.
Also, we/the Town would need a summary of two potentials; 1) Revenue gain or loss as current conditions indicate, with or without completion of a PMH expansion. 2) Capacity for potential future growth with or without expansion.
All the conversations were about the water system (only) at that time.
More to come next week.
Sam
