The Putnam County Commission approved officially moving the town of Poca and its surrounding area into Putnam Public Service District at its meeting Tuesday morning.
Jim Caruthers, former mayor of Poca, started the project for Putnam PSD to take over Poca's territory 25 years ago.
The PSD has already been working with the town of Poca for nearly two years under a management agreement. Now, Putnam PSD will have full control of Poca's sewer service within the boundaries the town currently serves.
Without Putnam PSD officially acquiring Poca's service, Poca was looking at a 25 percent increase in rates for their customers, Caruthers said. The average bill for 4,000 gallons of water would increase by $11.83 a month, and the minimum bill for 2,000 gallons would increase by $7.28 a month, according to Caruthers.
"I'm extremely happy to see this happen," Caruthers said.
The current mayor of Poca asked the commission to approve the expansion, telling the commission that the low-income people in Poca will benefit from the merger.
"It could save a lot of the elderly people minimum of $5.35 a month," Jones said. "That doesn't sound like a lot, but to them, it's a lot."
To acquire Poca, the Putnam PSD will have to increase the rates for all customers, Paul Callahan, chairman of Putnam Board of Commissioners, said. The average Putnam PSD rate will increase by $2.72 a month, and the minimum bill will increase by $1.36. The average customer currently pays $44.80 and the minimum bill is $22.40.
Residents of Poca will see a $0.23 per month increase for the average bill and the minimum bill for 2,000 gallons will decrease by $5.33 a month.
New rates for an average of 4,000 gallons will be $47.52 and the minimum bill for 2,000 gallons will be $23.76.
Residents will have two opportunities to voice their opinions on the rate increase. Putnam County Commission will have a public hearing on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. and on Feb. 23 at 9 a.m.
The proposed rate increase would take effect sometime in April or May, after the Putnam County Commission and Public Service Commission's approval.
In other business, Frank Chapman, Office of Emergency Services director, called attention to the problem of replacing street signs.
Currently, the office is in the process of installing 240 new street signs. The 911 fund covers the cost of the street signs, Chapman said, but the fund does not cover the cost of replacing the signs if they're stolen or knocked down.
"We have a couple out there that I'm surprised haven't disappeared just for the name of them," Chapman said.
Chapman proposed that a fund be set aside for replacing the signs.
Also, Couny Clerk Brian Wood is asking for poll workers for the upcoming election. Because of the size of the election, Wood said Putnam County will need more poll workers than usual.
Poll workers will earn $50 in training pay, $150 for working election day, and additional compensation, Wood said.
Anyone interested in working the polls may contact the County Clerk's office at 304-586-0202.
Reach Laura Haight at laura.haight@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @laurahaight_ on Twitter.