The first reading of an ordinance raising water rates and an attorney representing downtown business owners were considered by the Alderson Town Council on Thursday, April 14.
The council approved the first reading of a water rate increase related to the town’s upcoming water infrastructure project.
“This is the first read for the first rate increase,” explained Copenhaver. “The water bills will go up $4.68 on a minimum bill. The second increase happens after the project is complete, and it pays for the loan for any money we borrowed. After it’s all said and done, it’ll be less than $10 [rate increase]. That includes this $4 [raise].”
After a question from the crowd, Copenhaver explained the benefits of the project.
“It’s basically fixing 50 to 60 years of headache that Alderson has never had the money to fix,” Copenhaver said. “We’ve been working for two years to plan this project. There are still some lead infused lines, where they are joined. We still have cloud pipe, which is from a company that is now bankrupt and we can’t get anything from them. We have one tank that is completely out of service because of a lack of maintenance.”
In February, Copenhaver explained the plan includes “50,000 linear feet of pipes to replace. That also includes the river crossing. [We’re] upgrading 850 radio read meters [with] telemetry upgrades and the system that allows us to monitor water in real-time for leaks and flows. It also … will completely replace 850 tubs with lids [for the meters so no one falls in]. This will also give us an extension to Big Bend PSD for their interconnection for emergency water. That part of the project will add fire hydrants.”
The project does not include a separately funded relocation of the town’s water intake system. In November 2021, Governor Jim Justice traveled to Alderson to award over $8 million in grant money, hoping to prevent damage similar to that caused by the flood of 2016. The town of Alderson was just municipality to receive funds from the governor.
The last time rates were increased in Alderson was November 2019. That increase totaled approximately a 21 percent increase, increasing the minimal bill from $23 to $28.
“This is not relative to our new project, this is relative to fixing holes in the current financing,” Copenhaver explained at the time. “Even with the unaccounted for water down, we still have some deficits from where we have not raised rates in four years. It is what it is, and we’ve done the ‘baby-est’ step we could.”
The increase will next go to second reading and public hearing at a future Alderson Town Council meeting.
***
Attorney Paul Detch appeared on behalf of Sarah and Joe Alderson concerning the building next to City Hall.
In June 2020, demolition of 204 Monroe Street South was approved by town council. At the time, Copenhaver explained the building’s removal by the National Guard’s Slum and Blight program was the city’s next best option after a contractor was stopped by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection because of asbestos in the building.
However, in July 2020 council voted to remove the building from the demo list after a proposal from the Aldersons. They had one year to determine if the money was available to restore and relocate the building to one of several places downtown. In February this year, council returned the building to a demolition list.
Detch asked the city to allow city attorney Grady Ford and him to negotiate a contract between the two parties. Copenhaver cited lack of progress on the project as part of the reason for council putting the building back on the demolition list.
“You’ve presented us with no more of a solution that we had two and a half years ago,” Copenhaver said. “We did authorize Grady Ford to go with you to make some resolution to figure out an amicable solution to make the Aldersons happy. Neither one of you reached it. Grady said we will not sell this property for a dollar.”
Joe Alderson noted the one-dollar proposal was an initial idea that was discussed, not something he has been firm on.
“This is the first time that we have even had the city put on something of a counter offer,” said Detch. “You promised them they were going to get this building, they bought the roofing, they’re $5,000 invested, and so far all we get is a stonewall.”
Sarah Alderson emphasized this during public comment, saying, “you would get revenue out of the building. You would get the taxes that you want. … It would help our store. … That’s what’s happening in White Sulphur – they have people that want to spend money on buildings to fix them up. But White Sulphur is letting them. They aren’t stonewalling them. … Ronceverte is doing a certain amount of that, they’re running into some red tape. … It would have [been fixed] in the last 18 months. We don’t own it. Joe has spent $7,000 that you demanded that he fix the roof because you said you were going to sell it to us. The rules changed over and over and over.”
In November 2020, due to roof damage and the town of Alderson’s code, the Aldersons were given 30 days to repair the roof before Copenhaver and town council took action to demolish the building. Joe Alderson affirmed the roof would be fixed.
Detch also explained he was hired, in part, because of his involvement with the Lewisburg Foundation to save as many downtown buildings for businesses as possible over the past 40 years.
After a heated back and forth, Detch said, “I’m sorry sir, but I would hope that this town would have more respect for its history and its architecture than what’s been put on display here.”
“I wish the building was in Lewisburg, so you could deal with it,” Copenhaver responded.
Copenhaver previously stated in February that the building’s repair cost is estimated around $195,000.
Attorney Paul Detch (standing) speaks to Mayor Travis Copenhaver (seated, second from left) during the Alderson Town Council meeting. |
In other business:
– Concerning the newly installed but no longer ticking Alderson community clock, Copenhaver explained on social media that “we contacted the company the Monday after it blew the fuse on April 4. There has been a ticket placed because it keeps blowing an internal fuse. Gill Merritt is the electrician for that project and he has gone over everything from the power supply to the clock. The problem is an internal issue with the controls. It makes us all angry that it is not working, however we are not going to keep putting fuses in it without fixing the problem. We are at the mercy of the company getting the rep here to troubleshoot the issue. It is a warranty issue ‘unless it was hit by lightning.’ Which is not the case. It will be fixed as soon as the Verdin Clock Company rep can figure out the issue and fix the problem.”
– Greenbrier County Commission Candidate DeEtta Hunter approached Alderson Town Council to offer her support should she be elected as a commissioner. Copenhaver thanked her for coming.
– After speaking with Hunter, Copenhaver announced funds to fix more flooding issues in town. Copenhaver explained, “sometimes county commissions don’t realize what they could do to help us. Historically, we’re the bastard children in three counties. We’re not in Summers, but we’re close enough to throw a stick. Most of our voters are in Greenbrier. I’m very pleased that through an effort with the Monroe County Commission, we will be receiving $175,000 to fix the flooding that happens at the bottom of Flat Mountain.”
– The town will soon be down one police vehicle. According to Copenhaver, Dodge is “60 months” out from being able to get the town a new vehicle. This is similar to other providers, meaning that despite the town budgeting for a new vehicle, they will likely not be able to get one. As a result, the town approved the purchase of two used vehicles for $3,500 a piece. Despite a reluctance to buy used vehicles due to previous city experiences, Copenhaver explained, “we’re at a point where we are between a rock and hard place. These are higher mileage Ford cars that have service records. They are fine cars, they just have 100,000 miles.”
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.