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Kermit water leak causes outage, boil water advisory issued
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT KERMIT, W.Va. — The Town of Kermit is working to repair a major water line break that has disrupted water service and reduced water pressure for customers in Kermit and surrounding areas. Town officials said crews located the leak and continue repairs Monday night. Work will extend late into the evening and…
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Martin County Water still losing nearly half its water amid tight cash, rising bills
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Water District lost 48.92% of the water it produced in March, an improvement from roughly 70% a year ago but still leaving nearly half the system’s water unaccounted for due to leaks and line breaks. Alliance Water Resources presented the figures during the April 28…
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Martin County lands historic $26M WWATERS funding
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — For years, Martin County’s water crisis was measured in indignities. Brown water in bathtubs. Buckets carried up hillsides. Faucets that could not be trusted. A community forced to document its own hardship again and again, hoping that somewhere beyond the mountains, someone in power would finally pay attention.…
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PSC was right to say not yet
The Kentucky Public Service Commission made the right call. On April 8, the PSC denied the Martin County Water District’s request to end state monitoring and close the long-running case that has tracked this county’s water system through years of failure, crisis and costly repair. That decision may frustrate local officials but it is the…
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PSC opens enforcement case over Martin County Water District unapproved truck lease
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Public Service Commission has opened a formal investigation into the Martin County Water District, five current or former commissioners and an Alliance Water Resources manager over allegations the utility entered into a truck lease without first obtaining state approval required by law. In a March 31…
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PSC rejects Martin County Water District request to end monitoring
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Kentucky Public Service Commission has denied the Martin County Water District’s request to end state monitoring and close the long-running oversight case, ruling that the district has not yet shown it can operate without continued scrutiny or without the support of its outside management company, Alliance Water…
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Legislation heads to governor with nearly $26 million for Martin County water, sewer projects
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — Legislation that would release $25.8 million for eight Martin County water and sewer projects cleared the Kentucky General Assembly on Tuesday, moving to Gov. Andy Beshear. The measure, House Joint Resolution 81, would release $52,502,260 statewide in previously appropriated funding through Kentucky’s Water and Wastewater Assistance for Troubled…
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Water chairman questions vacant AWR manager post
District pays Alliance $181,550 monthly BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The search for a district water manager remains stalled nearly four months after the position became vacant, prompting Martin County Water District (MCWD) board members March 24 to question why the utility continues paying for the role through its $181,575-a-month management contract with…
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Lafferty presses senate, governor for $26M WWATERS funds
Judge/executive invokes coal legacy BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty used a special Fiscal Court meeting March 26 to publicly urge the Kentucky Senate and Gov. Andy Beshear to approve $25.8 million in WWATERS funding for local water and sewer projects, arguing the county has earned basic infrastructure after…
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House backs $25.8M in Martin County water, sewer projects
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — Martin County’s water and wastewater systems moved a major step closer to relief Tuesday. State Rep. Bobby McCool announced the Kentucky House passed House Joint Resolution 81, a measure that would release $52,502,260 in previously appropriated WWATERS funds, including $25,818,550 for eight Martin County water and sewer projects.…
