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Philippi talks about water tank project

PHILIPPI — Philippi City Council discussed funding for a water tank project Tuesday.

The USDA gave the city of Philippi a loan of $1,735,000, along with a grant of $1 million, to help fund the project, officials said.

The loan has a 2-percent interest rate is for a period of 40 years, with the first two years paying interest only. The loan has a set monthly payment of $5,448.

The total cost of the project — which will involve installing five tanks — is projected to be $2,735,000.

Randy Watson from Thrasher Engineering also addressed Council Tuesday, regarding the current status of the water tank project.

The project will include replacing two large 500,000-gallon tanks which are leaking, the replacement of the two current tanks at Alderson Broaddus University with two new 150,000 gallon tanks, and the installation of an additional tank on Route 250.

Watson reported that permits will be obtained in August, and the submission of a preliminary title opinion from the city attorney set for September.

Construction is set to start at the end of the year, beginning with the two main tanks. The installation of the tanks is expected to continue through the winter.

Watson said the replacement and the installment of the new tanks was a “needed project.”

Watson also reported on the progress of the reservoir project on Laurel Run.

The project was inspired by the water contamination crisis in Charleston, leading city officials to feel the most feasible thing for the to do was to create a water reservoir.

The $10 million project has been put on hold temporarily, because a stream is complicating the

planning.

The city of Philippi would have to pay mitigation fees of $6 million for the removal of the stream and the creation of the reservoir, officials said.

Watson and other Thrasher engineers are planning to meet with officials in Charleston to argue the project will be beneficial to the residents of Philippi along with the existing ecosystem.

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