Sewer plant loan finalized at
Ronceverte City Council meeting
By Sarah Mansheim
“What a long, strange trip it’s been,” quipped bond attorney John Stump as he brought the city of Ronceverte toward its last step in finalizing financing for the city’s new wastewater treatment plant.
And, with that, Ronceverte City Council passed the resolutions necessary to secure nearly $24 million in funding to build a new sewer plant. Financing includes a grant in the amount of $9,241,886.62 and a loan in the amount of $14,481,456 from the clean water state revolving fund.
The loan is a 40-year loan at 0 percent interest, with a 1/2 percent interest administration fee. The first payment of $38,673 is due on Mar. 1, 2018. Council passed a resolution authorizing the West Virginia Bond Commission to “sweep” the monthly payment from city coffers every month thereafter, until the final payment is made on June 1, 2055. Stump told council the loan cannot be paid off early without the approval of the lender, but also noted that with 0 percent interest, he did not think they would need to do that.
The sweep, or automatic monthly debit, will make having working capital absolutely necessary, Stump said, as the debit is automatic and cannot be adjusted or delayed.
“Your cash flow becomes critical,” said Stump.
The loan-related resolutions all passed 6-1, with council member Adam Rosin voting “nay” on all counts. Rosin was absent from the meeting, but attended telephonically, and he did not elaborate as to why he voted against the resolutions.
Eric Hartwell of Dunn Engineers was present at the meeting. Hartwell and his firm have been involved in the design and development of the wastewater treatment plant since its early planning stages in 2008; Dunn Engineers signed a contract with the city to design the plant in 2009. Hartwell told council that once the contracts were signed, the general contractor, G.M. McCrossin of Bellafonte, PA, will begin moving in equipment.
“Hopefully, two months from now, we will be under construction,” said Hartwell. The plant is scheduled for completion in two years.
In other business, council members discussed the upcoming C&O Depot Centennial Celebration, set for Labor Day weekend. The celebration commemorates the old train depot on Edgar Avenue, which was built 100 years ago when Ronceverte was a popular railroad stop on the now-defunct C&O Railroad.
The depot is no longer in use, and had fallen into disrepair, until current owner CSX stepped in and began a light restoration of the historic structure. Mayor David Smith said the CSX has spent about a quarter million dollars stabilizing and repairing the building.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “It looks really good. The folks at CSX need to be patted on the back.”
The C&O Depot Centennial Celebration is the brain child of Ronceverte resident and Main Street Ronceverte’s 1882 Society President Kathy King, who originally approached council last January about holding a celebration for the depot’s 100-year anniversary.
The weekend celebration will include the grand opening of the Ronceverte Museum, a parade, train displays, vendors, crafts, a flea market, food and more. The celebration begins on Friday, Sept. 4, and continues through Sunday, Sept. 6. Call Main Street Ronceverte or the Ronceverte Development Corporation at 304-647-3140 for more information.
Council is set to reconvene in regular session on Monday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m.
CSX has been restoring the old C&O Depot in downtown Ronceverte, which had fallen into disrepair. The City of Ronceverte is celebrating the depot’s 100-year anniversary this Labor Day weekend with the C&O Depot Centennial Celebration.
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C&O Depot Centennial Celebration Event Schedule
Friday Sept. 4
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Flea Market
• 5 p.m. – Ronceverte Museum grand opening
• 6:30 p.m. – Parade
• 7:30 p.m. – American Heritage Music Hall square dancing in Downtown
Saturday, Sept. 5
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Ronceverte Museum opens
• 9 a.m. – Flea Market and Arts & Crafts all day
• 10 a.m. – Ribbon Cutting at the C&O Depot
• 10 a.m. – Professional Train Displays at the Clifford Armory & Street Food Vendors all day
• Live Music All Day
10:30 a.m. – Silent Islands
11:30 a.m. – Vital Shock
12:30 p.m. – The Seay Brothers
1:30 p.m. – Absolute Love Affair
• Live Music – Depot Stage
2-4 p.m. – Martyr Kanin
Sunday, Sept. 6
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Professional Train Displays at the Clifford Armory
• 11 a.m. – Community Worship Service
• Live Music
1p.m. – Bethesda – Contemporary Christian
2 p.m. – Harmony Creek Junction
