FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – Back in May, the Fayette County Commission moved to remove all three members of the Page-Kincaid Public Service District as their district has been experiencing poor water quality for around two years.
Before Judge Thomas Ewing, Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Mauzy, representing the county commission, and Phillip Tissue, representing the PSD, discussed what will happen in the coming months in Friday’s status hearing.
“So he set a date for the hearing that will ultimately be where the evidence is presented and where he’ll decide this issue and he set some other deadlines that are technical for legal cases,” Mauzy said.
On October 2, both parities will return to the large courtroom in what could be a long hearing as both sides will make their case with exhibits and witnesses similar to a typical trial.
Mauzy says this case could potentially be impacted by the Public Service Commission decision as they have ordered an agreement to happen between West Virginia American Water and the Public Service District in 30 days.
If that does not happen, the PSC will force a takeover.
Although members of the PSD declined to comment on Friday, in a previous interview with commission member, James Kincaid, he said they have been blocked from spending their $3 million-dollar loan to fix the system because of these legal motions.
Local attorney and county commission candidate Allison Taylor says she worries about where that money and the money coming from their high bills is going.
“There was a $168 bill for water and sewage one month, and that’s not even the highest bill that they’ve had,” Taylor said. “I’m very concerned that there’s fraud going on and there’s no accounting for where this money is.”
Mauzy said in court they can’t sit around and wait to see what the Public Service Commission ends up doing.
The residents who have been dealing with the mystery of what will come out of their faucets, like Tammy Skidmore, say enough is enough.
“We’re tired of dragging the feet. We’re ready for action,” she said.
That hearing will take place at 8:30 a.m. on October 2 in Judge Blake’s courtroom to allow for space.
