CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Of the roughly 50 people who spoke at the hour-long public hearing Thursday night in Charles Town all but two favored shutting down the Jefferson County Public Service District in order to create an new utility service in partnership with the cities of Charles Town and Ranson.
Commissioners have been exploring the option as consumers continue to complain about high water and sewer rates.
Commission President Peter Onoszko said the situation came to a head in December when the cities of Ranson and Charles Town proposed the idea.
He said even after the hearing there’s still a long way to go before any change is made.
“There’s a bunch of technical issues with regard to what that’s going to look like,” said Onoszko. “But we are a long ways from that right now.”
The Charles Town Utilities Board will present the plan for aquisition and consolidation during the regular City Council’s May 15 meeting.
More public hearings are also likely to be held as the process continues.