WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2024 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 5589

By Delegate Dillon

[Introduced February 12, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism then Finance]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §31-15-7a, relating to requiring the Economic Development Authority to transfer $15,000,000 to the Wayne County Commission to be utilized to support the Crum Public Service District in constructing a water treatment plant in southern Wayne County.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 15. WEST VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

§31-15-7a. Funding for Wayne County Commission for water infrastructure

(a) The Legislature finds that.

(1) Access to clean and reliable water supplies are critical to a high quality of life for our citizens as well as our outlook for economic growth. Legislature finds that economic conditions in certain communities present acute obstacles to building and maintaining sufficient infrastructure to ensure a modern standard of living for current and prospective residents;

(2) The disruptions to water supplies of southern Wayne and northern Mingo Counties in consecutive years 2023 and 2024 negatively impacted thousands of residents;

(3) The Crum PSD depends solely upon water supplies from Kermit Municipal Water and the Mingo PSD, and that this dependence, while not the sole factor, is nevertheless a primary factor in the recurring service disruptions throughout the area;

(4) The engineering report by E.L. Robinson which suggests construction of a water treatment plant in southern Wayne County outlines a viable path toward more reliable water service for residents of the area;

(5) Such a water treatment facility will reduce the burden on the Mingo PSD and Kermit Municipal Water Company; and

(6) Such water infrastructure, being necessary to economic development, should qualify for funding from the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, provided that the Wayne County Commission establish a dedicated account to receive funds and implement the water plant infrastructure project.

(b) As the cost identified with the project is estimated at $15,000,000, the West Virginia Economic Development Authority shall transfer $15,000,000 to the Wayne County Commission to be utilized to support the Crum Public Service District in constructing a water treatment plant in southern Wayne County.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the Economic Development Authority to transfer $15,000,000 to the Wayne County Commission to be utilized to support the Crum Public Service District in constructing a water treatment plant in southern Wayne County.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.