BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

KERMIT, W.Va. — Kermit is raising its water rate. Customers will pay about $7.70 more monthly.

Mayor Charles Sparks and the Kermit Town Council conducted the second reading of the ordinance setting the new rate in a public hearing Monday at Town Hall.

The minimum bill for 3,000 gallons of water will increase from $25 to $32.70. The sewer bill will be a flat $25 per month.

Sparks said the increase was necessary as Kermit needs to completely rehabilitate the water treatment plant and run a new water line to East Kermit.

Kermit will receive a $1.2 million federal allocation in October and plans to apply for a USDA loan in January.

“The plant will be like brand-new and last another 40 or 50 years,” Sparks said.