posted by admin - 01/27/09

January 25, 2009

Dear Snowshoe Homeowners,

The arrival of the Jan-March water and sewer bills now separate bills has triggered a number of e-mails, calls and letters to the Snowshoe Property Owners Association expressing confusion about the increase in the sewer rate.
Many of you may not have read the last SPOC e-newsletter warning that the rate change was imminent and would be a three- to five-fold increase. This was the latest in an ongoing series of informative letters, e-mails and updates on SPOCNews.com. Here's a recap:

WHAT ARE THE NEW INTERIM RATES?
These figures are for sewage treatment ONLY. The quarterly water bill HAS NOT CHANGED.

Efficiency, one, two bedroom homes - $33/month
Three bedroom homes - $45/month
Four bedroom homes - $55/month
Five bedroom homes - $60/month
Six bedroom homes - $70/month
Hot Tubs - $4.75/month

The TOTAL INCREASE in your YEARLY bill over last year:

Efficiency - $327
One BR - $281
Two BR - $261
Three BR - $396
Four BR - $506
Five BR - $553
Six BR - $660
Hot Tub - $57

WHY DID YOUR RATES INCREASE?
Last year, using contributions from concerned Snowshoe property owners, SPOC filed several motions with the state Public Service Commission (PSC) asking that the Snowshoe sewage treatment facilities (and the ratepayers, that's us) NOT be transferred to the county Public Service District (PSD). SPOC did this for a number of reasons, including the prospect of increased rates to fund a regional sewage treatment plant, and environmental concerns about the plant.
Ultimately, the PSC approved the transfer in December 2008. Here's the link to the decision: http://www.psc.state.wv.us/scripts/orders/ViewDocument.cfm?CaseActivityID=251355&Source=Docket
This is why you are now receiving sewer bills from the PSD, which now owns and operates the Snowshoe sewage treatment plants. You are billed separately for water by Snowshoe Water & Sewer Inc.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The sewer bill you just received reflects the INTERIM RATE schedule approved by the state PSC. The rates will increase again significantly if/when a new sewage treatment plant is built. The PSD wants to build a plant in the valley to provide sewer service to that area. Snowshoe property owners and the resort will be the ratepayers who finance this project, which could cost $25-$30 million.
You can read about this in more detail on www.SPOCNews.com.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1--Familiarize yourself with the issue on the PSC link and on SPOCNews.com.
2--Read the recent discussion on http://www.martinsaffer.com/Pocahontas_County_Forum/PSC_Approves_Transfer_of_Snowshoe_Sewer_to_PSD
3--Email county commissioners Martin Saffer (martinsaffer@frontiernet.net) and David Fleming (fleming42@gmail.com)
4--The January 27 PSD meeting for public comment on the proposed sewage treatment plant project was cancelled because of weather. SPOC will post the new date.

If you want to express your concerns, contact county commissioners Martin Saffer (martinsaffer@frontiernet.net),  David Fleming (fleming42@gmail.com), and Reta Griffith (retagriffith@frontiernet.net). The PSD board contacts are Tom Michael, PSD attorney (Tom_Michael@yahoo.com), Scott Millican (bsmillican@frontiernet.net), and Bill Smith (mtsmith@frontiernet.net).