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ELKINS -- The Randolph County Commission approved a payment to the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid taxes by the Whitmer Water Association.
Commissioners Cris Siler, David Kesling and Chris See unanimously agreed for the county to pay $19,571.75 to the IRS, which will complete the transfer of control of the WWA to the City of Elkins.
In January of this year, Elkins assumed full operations of the WWA, which includes operating the plant, reading meters, fixing leaks, and everything else that goes with the day-to-day running of a water association.
Elkins has been operating under an interim tag, however, until some financial issues, including money owed to the IRS, could be resolved.
Elkins City Attorney Geraldine Roberts told the Commission that she was waiting on confirmation on what the total amount was that the WWA owed to the IRS. Kesling told Roberts he had made a call to the IRS and received an amount that would satisfy momentarily.
"I called the IRS because I wanted to find out, because we had your number that you had submitted to us that was outstanding, but I wanted to double check," said Kesling. "Right now it's currently $19,571.75, and that would take care of all the current quarters they are behind on."
Kesling told Roberts there were several additional quarters from previous years that haven't been filed and that there likely would be more to pay in the future.
"We are not even sure what employees they had during the quarters you are mentioning," Roberts said. "Because at some point in time, after this plant was deemed a distressed failing utility, the only people that were actually working were the two gentlemen that took care of the water plant. We don't know if they were drawing a salary or not because the Association didn't exist and they didn't have any cash to do anything. So whether or not there were actual employees in those quarters they are talking about, I don't know."
Kesling said the amount the County Commission was willing to pay would take care of what is known to be owed at the present time.
"As of right now, a good number until October is $19,571.75," Kesling said. "I thought we would take this out of the coal severance and pay the IRS to satisfy the current outstanding amount that they are behind on…I make a motion to pay this to help the City of Elkins with their takeover of the Whitmer Water Association."
In July 2023, a joint application was filed for an interim operating agreement between Elkins and Whitmer. In September 2023, the PSC approved interim rates and an interim operating agreement, and in December Elkins sent out the first round of billing, which was processed by the Elkins billing department.
The next Randolph County Commission meeting will be at the Wees Annex on Oct. 3 at 1:30 p.m.