Sewer extension project progresses to maintain federal funds

Josephine Moore, The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va.
·1 min read

Apr. 2—The Raleigh County Commission has nine months to secure all the necessary easements for an $8 million sewer project in the Piney View/Batoff Mountain area or risk losing millions in federal funding.

During its meeting Tuesday, commissioners approved a $422,400 contract for a right-of-way negotiation for the Piney View/Batoff Mountain sewer extension project.

Raleigh County Commission President Dave Tolliver said they need to secure all the necessary easements and put the project out to bid prior to the end of 2024 to maintain the $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding set aside for the project.

In 2022, the Raleigh County Commission received roughly $14.2 million in ARPA funding, which was part of a Covid relief stimulus funding package passed by Congress in 2021.

All ARPA funding must be allocated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026. Any funds not allocated or spent by the deadline will be reabsorbed by the federal government.

Tolliver said they have been able to fully fund the project, which is estimated to cost just over $8 million.

Another significant funding source for the project was the West Virginia Water Development Authority, which provided a $3.6 million grant.

The project will allow the North Beckley Public Service District to provide sewer service to approximately 218 customers in the Piney View and Batoff Mountain area of Raleigh County.

Tolliver said the project will take approximately two to three year to complete once construction starts.

Email: jmoore@register-herald.com