Latest news with #MikeMcNulty
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MUB receives positive news on Morgans Run extension project
Jun. 11—MORGANTOWN — Residents in approximately three dozen homes in the Morgans Run Road area along Cheat Lake have spent years purchasing, collecting and hauling water due to low-producing wells plagued with high iron and manganese levels. The Morgantown Utility Board announced Tuesday that a solution may be at hand. "I am very pleased to report that we have received notice from the West Virginia DEP that their [water extension ] project will be eligible for Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation funding, " MUB General Manager Mike McNulty told members of the utility's board of directors. MUB's involvement with the issue dates back at least two years. In November 2023, the extension project was estimated at $3.7 million. MUB filed applications for $4 million through the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, but was ultimately denied those funds. Based on the latest announcement from the WVDEP, McNulty said MUB will put together a new cost estimate for the work. He also noted the AML Grant won't pay for the entire project, but is expected to cover "a significant portion." It's expected the unfunded portion would ultimately be repaid through surcharges on customer bills in the new service area. During the 2023 push, MUB secured user agreements from 27 of the 35 or so households. "We're going through and redoing our cost estimates so that we can understand what would be covered and what would still be remaining, so that we can then talk intelligently to the folks out there. And probably the next step, once we have those cost estimates done, would be to get all those residents together and go over that and let them know, you know, what's still in front of us and get commitments from them that we want to move forward, " Assistant General Manager Rich Rogers said. "But what an awesome thing for those people. We haven't done the cost estimates, but we're talking about over half of a very significant project." Rogers said there are residents in the impacted area spending hundreds of dollars monthly to have water hauled to their homes. "The significance of the AML grant cannot be overstated. Keep in mind that it's the policy of the Public Service Commission that the costs of line extensions be borne by those that benefit from it rather than be carried by all of MUB's rate payers. In situations such as this, the cost of the project would most likely be too great for the residents to bear, " McNulty said in a Wednesday press release. MUB credits a list of agencies and individuals with getting the funding lined up, including the residents of Morgans Run, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Delegate David McCormick, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the West Virginia DEP's Office of Abandoned Mines and Reclamation. "We pride ourselves in finding solutions to meet MUB's mission of protecting public health. This grant furthers that mission and serves as recognition of the persistence of the residents, the strength of our state and federal leadership, and the trust that they hold in MUB's ability to get things done, " McNulty said. "We're proud to be a part of this team and excited to help these families obtain safe, clean water."
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MUB receives positive news on Morgans Run extension project
Jun. 11—MORGANTOWN — Residents in approximately three dozen homes in the Morgans Run Road area along Cheat Lake have spent years purchasing, collecting and hauling water due to low-producing wells plagued with high iron and manganese levels. The Morgantown Utility Board announced Tuesday that a solution may be at hand. "I am very pleased to report that we have received notice from the West Virginia DEP that their [water extension ] project will be eligible for Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation funding, " MUB General Manager Mike McNulty told members of the utility's board of directors. MUB's involvement with the issue dates back at least two years. In November 2023, the extension project was estimated at $3.7 million. MUB filed applications for $4 million through the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, but was ultimately denied those funds. Based on the latest announcement from the WVDEP, McNulty said MUB will put together a new cost estimate for the work. He also noted the AML Grant won't pay for the entire project, but is expected to cover "a significant portion." It's expected the unfunded portion would ultimately be repaid through surcharges on customer bills in the new service area. During the 2023 push, MUB secured user agreements from 27 of the 35 or so households. "We're going through and redoing our cost estimates so that we can understand what would be covered and what would still be remaining, so that we can then talk intelligently to the folks out there. And probably the next step, once we have those cost estimates done, would be to get all those residents together and go over that and let them know, you know, what's still in front of us and get commitments from them that we want to move forward, " Assistant General Manager Rich Rogers said. "But what an awesome thing for those people. We haven't done the cost estimates, but we're talking about over half of a very significant project." Rogers said there are residents in the impacted area spending hundreds of dollars monthly to have water hauled to their homes. "The significance of the AML grant cannot be overstated. Keep in mind that it's the policy of the Public Service Commission that the costs of line extensions be borne by those that benefit from it rather than be carried by all of MUB's rate payers. In situations such as this, the cost of the project would most likely be too great for the residents to bear, " McNulty said in a Wednesday press release. MUB credits a list of agencies and individuals with getting the funding lined up, including the residents of Morgans Run, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Delegate David McCormick, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the West Virginia DEP's Office of Abandoned Mines and Reclamation. "We pride ourselves in finding solutions to meet MUB's mission of protecting public health. This grant furthers that mission and serves as recognition of the persistence of the residents, the strength of our state and federal leadership, and the trust that they hold in MUB's ability to get things done, " McNulty said. "We're proud to be a part of this team and excited to help these families obtain safe, clean water."
Dominion Post
8 hours ago
- Business
- Dominion Post
MUB receives positive news on Morgans Run extension project
MORGANTOWN — Residents in approximately three dozen homes in the Morgans Run Road area along Cheat Lake have spent years purchasing, collecting and hauling water due to low-producing wells plagued with high iron and manganese levels. The Morgantown Utility Board announced Tuesday that a solution may be at hand. 'I am very pleased to report that we have received notice from the West Virginia DEP that their [water extension] project will be eligible for Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation funding,' MUB General Manager Mike McNulty told members of the utility's board of directors. MUB's involvement with the issue dates back at least two years. In November 2023, the extension project was estimated at $3.7 million. MUB filed applications for $4 million through the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, but was ultimately denied those funds. Based on the latest announcement from the WVDEP, McNulty said MUB will put together a new cost estimate for the work. He also noted the AML Grant won't pay for the entire project, but is expected to cover 'a significant portion.' It's expected the unfunded portion would ultimately be repaid through surcharges on customer bills in the new service area. During the 2023 push, MUB secured user agreements from 27 of the 35 or so households. 'We're going through and redoing our cost estimates so that we can understand what would be covered and what would still be remaining, so that we can then talk intelligently to the folks out there. And probably the next step, once we have those cost estimates done, would be to get all those residents together and go over that and let them know, you know, what's still in front of us and get commitments from them that we want to move forward,' Assistant General Manager Rich Rogers said. 'But what an awesome thing for those people. We haven't done the cost estimates, but we're talking about over half of a very significant project.' Rogers said there are residents in the impacted area spending hundreds of dollars monthly to have water hauled to their homes. 'The significance of the AML grant cannot be overstated. Keep in mind that it's the policy of the Public Service Commission that the costs of line extensions be borne by those that benefit from it rather than be carried by all of MUB's rate payers. In situations such as this, the cost of the project would most likely be too great for the residents to bear,' McNulty said in a Wednesday press release. MUB credits a list of agencies and individuals with getting the funding lined up, including the residents of Morgans Run, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Delegate David McCormick, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the West Virginia DEP's Office of Abandoned Mines and Reclamation. 'We pride ourselves in finding solutions to meet MUB's mission of protecting public health. This grant furthers that mission and serves as recognition of the persistence of the residents, the strength of our state and federal leadership, and the trust that they hold in MUB's ability to get things done,' McNulty said. 'We're proud to be a part of this team and excited to help these families obtain safe, clean water.'
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MUB to acquire Star City utilities
Mar. 11—MORGANTOWN — Officials with the town of Star City said Tuesday they're ready to turn the town's water and sewer infrastructure — as well as management of its stormwater system — over to the Morgantown Utility Board. MUB General Manager Mike McNulty said the utility is "ready, willing and able " to take it on as soon as the two sides iron out the details. "The town council and the administration has determined that due to the small size of the town of Star City, the town is unable to generate sufficient revenue to finance significant water, sewer, or stormwater capital projects. Surface water entering the town of Star City from an uphill jurisdiction creates significant stormwater management challenges, " Star City Mayor Sharon Doyle said. She later added, "We're just at a point now where we need to start looking to the future. We just can't continue to just go day by day, and then something big happens, and we're left asking 'what do we do now ?'" The town has 945 sewer customers and 17 miles of gravity sewer lines. Its system generates $428, 000 in gross annual revenue. MUB treats all flows out of Star City at its riverside treatment facility, which is located in the town. MUB is the lone treated water provider for Star City's 945 water customers. The water is delivered through 10.5 miles of water main. Water sales generate a gross annual revenue of about $493, 000. There are 877 customers in Star City's MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System). If ultimately finalized, and approved through the West Virginia Public Service Commission, the arrangement would see MUB take complete ownership of all water and sewer lines and facilities. As the state set up stormwater management as a municipal public work, and not a public utility, MUB and Star City will enter into an operations and management agreement that will make MUB the operational agent for the town's stormwater system. Star City's utilities are debt free and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. "It's important to recall that we are interconnected physically. There are 22 interconnection points between MUB and the Star City sewer utility. So physically, this makes sense, " Star City attorney Tim Stranko said. "I visited with you before we talked about harvesting the economies of scope and scale. This is another perfect example of how we can drive costs down for all the customers." Literally one year ago (March 12, 2024), Stranko stood before the utility's board of directors proposing MUB acquire Westover's sanitary sewer system. Stranko also serves as the city attorney for Westover. Westover and MUB currently have an operations and management agreement in place through which MUB is responsible for all customer service, billing and fee collection, system infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, service of all debt, and all other ongoing operations of Westover's system. Once Westover's upcoming Holland Avenue and pump station projects are complete, the two sides will finalize MUB's acquisition of that system. Comparing current rates for the same amount of water, a MUB customer is paying $25.44 and a Star City customer is paying $38.64. On the sewer side, a MUB customer is paying $42.76 and a Star City customer is paying $39.08. MUB's stormwater fees are $7.58 (flat rate) and $3.03 (per 1, 000 square feet). Star City's fees are $5.88 and $2.35, respectively.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MUB to acquire Star City utilities
Mar. 11—MORGANTOWN — Officials with the town of Star City said Tuesday they're ready to turn the town's water and sewer infrastructure — as well as management of its stormwater system — over to the Morgantown Utility Board. MUB General Manager Mike McNulty said the utility is "ready, willing and able " to take it on as soon as the two sides iron out the details. "The town council and the administration has determined that due to the small size of the town of Star City, the town is unable to generate sufficient revenue to finance significant water, sewer, or stormwater capital projects. Surface water entering the town of Star City from an uphill jurisdiction creates significant stormwater management challenges, " Star City Mayor Sharon Doyle said. She later added, "We're just at a point now where we need to start looking to the future. We just can't continue to just go day by day, and then something big happens, and we're left asking 'what do we do now ?'" The town has 945 sewer customers and 17 miles of gravity sewer lines. Its system generates $428, 000 in gross annual revenue. MUB treats all flows out of Star City at its riverside treatment facility, which is located in the town. MUB is the lone treated water provider for Star City's 945 water customers. The water is delivered through 10.5 miles of water main. Water sales generate a gross annual revenue of about $493, 000. There are 877 customers in Star City's MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System). If ultimately finalized, and approved through the West Virginia Public Service Commission, the arrangement would see MUB take complete ownership of all water and sewer lines and facilities. As the state set up stormwater management as a municipal public work, and not a public utility, MUB and Star City will enter into an operations and management agreement that will make MUB the operational agent for the town's stormwater system. Star City's utilities are debt free and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. "It's important to recall that we are interconnected physically. There are 22 interconnection points between MUB and the Star City sewer utility. So physically, this makes sense, " Star City attorney Tim Stranko said. "I visited with you before we talked about harvesting the economies of scope and scale. This is another perfect example of how we can drive costs down for all the customers." Literally one year ago (March 12, 2024), Stranko stood before the utility's board of directors proposing MUB acquire Westover's sanitary sewer system. Stranko also serves as the city attorney for Westover. Westover and MUB currently have an operations and management agreement in place through which MUB is responsible for all customer service, billing and fee collection, system infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, service of all debt, and all other ongoing operations of Westover's system. Once Westover's upcoming Holland Avenue and pump station projects are complete, the two sides will finalize MUB's acquisition of that system. Comparing current rates for the same amount of water, a MUB customer is paying $25.44 and a Star City customer is paying $38.64. On the sewer side, a MUB customer is paying $42.76 and a Star City customer is paying $39.08. MUB's stormwater fees are $7.58 (flat rate) and $3.03 (per 1, 000 square feet). Star City's fees are $5.88 and $2.35, respectively.
