Logan County Commission rejects West Virginia American Water proposal
- Robert Fields
- 11 hours ago
- 4 min read
LOGAN The Logan County Commission voted Friday afternoon to reject West Virginia American Water’s proposal to purchase the Logan County and Buffalo Creek Public Service Districts.
The decision followed months of discussions between the utility company and local officials. West Virginia American Water formally submitted its acquisition offer on February 10, proposing to invest $234.7 million into Logan County’s water and wastewater systems. The proposal included nearly $153 million in system upgrades, such as replacing outdated distribution lines and rebuilding aging treatment facilities in Buffalo Creek and Greenville.
Company officials claimed the local infrastructure was in critical condition, noting that some lines have been in the ground for more than 75 years. Business Development Director Brooks Crislip said the Buffalo Creek systems, in particular, required immediate and costly replacements to avoid failure.
The acquisition plan met stiff resistance from customers of the county’s PSD systems, as well as local engineers and fire officials who urged the county to retain control and attempt local solutions. Some residents, however, supported the deal, concerned that failure to act could result in an environmental and public health crisis.
Commission President Diana Barnette acknowledged the complexity of the issue and the need for careful consideration but said the volume of public feedback played a significant role in the outcome.
“I wanted to be sure that the decision I made – which would affect everybody and futures to come – would be the right decision for me,” Barnette said. “I would have liked to have had a little bit more time, but that’s why you have three commissioners. We’re all independent thinkers. These two gentlemen had made up their minds, and I was lagging. I wanted to know everything that I could know before I made a decision.”
Commissioner Billy Jack Dickerson said he and his colleagues spent "countless hours" researching the proposal and engaging with the community before voting.
“It’s something that’s been on the hearts and minds of Logan Countians, and we are Logan Countians as well, folks. We live here, and it affects us. We pay those same bills,” Dickerson said. “I want you to understand that this has not been taken lightly, and we just thought it was time to come to a decision, so that at least – at the very least – you the citizens, we the commission, everyone involved knows where we stand. And at that point, I think this is why it’s so important that, regardless of today’s outcome, we move forward from this point on.”
Recently elected Commissioner Eric Porter had publicly opposed the acquisition from the start.
"I believe this course of action best serves the interests of our community, and with that being said, I just want to say Logan County’s not for sale." -Commissioner Eric Porter
“I’ve been an advocate for keeping our PSDs local from day one. I believe this course of action best serves the interests of our community, and with that being said, I just want to say Logan County’s not for sale,” Porter said Friday.
The vote leaves unresolved concerns about the condition of Buffalo Creek’s infrastructure. General Manager Herby Pruitt previously warned that the district’s wastewater treatment plant was operating nearly twice its designed capacity, describing it as “one heartbeat away from a disaster.” If the plant were to fail, he said, raw sewage could contaminate the Guyandotte River, potentially affecting areas far beyond Logan County.
Still, Barnette reassured residents that the county will not abandon those served by the Buffalo Creek PSD.
“There are people who wanted American Water to come in and save us, so be respectful of their feelings, and I’d like to make a promise to the people who are – they’re afraid,” Barnette said. “Buffalo Creek is in danger. I think that we have a great staff in place now. I think that the PSD boards we’ve put in place will do a great job. I have a lot of confidence and a lot of faith in them, but I want to make a promise to Buffalo Creek that we will take care of you. You are still Logan County.”
Logan County Fire Coordinator James Porter, who uses services from both PSDs and West Virginia American Water, had previously urged commissioners to pursue a locally driven resolution. He advocated for merging the two PSDs and allowing Logan County time to pursue improvements before turning to a private utility.
Engineer Rick Roberts, who serves as the engineer of record for both systems, echoed that sentiment. While acknowledging the serious problems facing Buffalo Creek, he maintained that Logan County could recover and improve its infrastructure without selling to a for-profit company.
The decision affects approximately 18,000 customers across both systems. The next regular meeting of the Logan County Commission is scheduled for Monday at 3:00 p.m. at the commission office in downtown Logan.
PHOTO | WVOW Radio