BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey brought his Water Listening Tour to Williamson Aug. 4, telling a packed town hall that reliable water, sewer and other infrastructure are fundamental to attracting business and improving life in southern West Virginia.
Morrisey arrived in Williamson after stops in Wayne County and had lunch downtown before making his way to Williamson City Hall, where residents, elected officials and community leaders filled the room.
The governor told the crowd he wanted to travel the state, hear directly from residents and discuss the work his administration has underway.
“There is a lot happening in West Virginia right now,” Morrisey said. “I’ve been your governor for about 18 months or so.”
“We have been working diligently on so many issues,” he added.
Morrisey described infrastructure as one of the fundamentals of economic development. Communities seeking to attract new businesses and industry, he explained, need suitable development sites, dependable water and sewer systems, strong broadband service and affordable energy.
Water infrastructure was the primary focus of his southern West Virginia tour.
Morrisey acknowledged the long-standing water challenges facing communities in counties including Mingo, Wyoming and McDowell and emphasized the need to streamline the process for getting improvement projects funded and completed.
He also discussed efforts to secure funding for water projects in underserved areas. He said state agencies involved in those projects need to work together rather than create additional hurdles for communities.
Mark Sarver, executive director of the West Virginia Water Development Authority, joined Morrisey on the southern West Virginia tour. Sarver recently left his position as mayor of Glenville to lead the state agency, which helps local governments finance water, wastewater and other infrastructure projects.
Morrisey characterized the tour as an opportunity to hear directly from residents and officials in communities dealing with aging systems and unreliable service, then take those concerns back to Charleston as his administration works on solutions.
After updating the crowd on his administration’s priorities, Morrisey opened the town hall to questions from those in attendance.
State and local officials attending the Williamson stop included Sen. Mark Maynard, Delegate Mark Dean, Mingo County Commissioners Nathan Brown, Thomas Taylor and Diann Hannah, and Williamson Mayor Mike Casey.
The Williamson meeting was part of Morrisey’s two-day tour of southern West Virginia communities facing water and infrastructure challenges.