By Esteban Fernandez
For Times West Virginian
FAIRMONT — Worthington-area resident Doug Starcher donned a jaunty hat and gleefully passed out candy canes to members of the Marion County Commission on Wednesday.
At the same time, two and a half hours away in Charleston, news had just broken that Gov. Patrick Morrisey had approved $2 million in Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Funds for Worthington’s broken water and sewer system.
“We all take water and sewer very, very seriously, and I certainly do,” Morrisey said. “I’ve been looking for so many different ways to convert some of the dollars we have into putting more on the target for water and sewer. It’s not sexy, but it’s really important that people have access to clean water.”
The amount Morrisey committed from the mine land revitalization funds ended being higher than the $1.25 million initially reported by County Commission President Linda Longstreth and Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia County, on social media. Morrisey said the money would not just replace old pipes, but also “eliminate concerns, we’re going to eliminate risk with safety.”
Morrisey said the funds came after his office had discussions with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the Water Development Authority.
Morrisey credited Del. Phil Mallow, R-Marion County, for the grant money, at the same time, some town residents accuse Mallow of placing insufficient attention to the sewage issue.
“Phil Mallow was dogged, Phil Mallow was determined,” Morrisey said. “Phil Mallow kept coming and saying, this really matters for my district. It makes all the difference in the world.”
The subject came up at a press conference Morrisey held in Clarksburg on Tuesday. At the time, Morrisey said any announcement about the funds was premature, and expressed consternation that the amount had been leaked. He also said he wanted to ensure the right people got credit. On Wednesday at a Marion County Commission meeting, Commissioner Ernie VanGilder said “loose lips sink ships” in reference to the amount leak.
It’s also an election year.
“This is a great day for the good folks of Worthington,” Mallow said. “Thank the Good Lord for this blessing. Thanks go out to my wife who stood with me during this challenge. Thanks also go out to Mayor Debbie Heflin and the Worthington City Council who kept me updated through it all. And obviously, thanks to Governor Morrisey for helping to make this whole thing possible.”
Mallow said Gov. Morrisey’s plan for fossil fuels, energy production, data centers and the revenues they will generate along with his proposed tax cuts will help West Virginia become more competitive with our surrounding states. He added the governor’s plan will help state residents. Mallow was enthusiastic about the governor’s agenda.
“Some folks say that they are ‘all for progress as long as nothing changes,’” Mallow said. “Well our state is changing, and it is progressing. Let’s all get on board and truly work to make a difference. Thank you, Governor Morrisey.”
Andrea Zaleski, a Worthington area resident who’s home is connected to the town’s sewer system, is appreciative of the $2 million. Zaleski is part of a group of town residents who have been demanding accountability from the mayor and state representatives. She said while the $2 million will help, it’s a shame town residents had to go through several years of being out of compliance with the WVDEP and be subjected to health issues from breathing sewage to receive the grant.
She also said no one was aware Mallow pursued the funds.
“I appreciate his hard work, but the problem was we just never heard back from him,” Zaleski said. “He came to one meeting in spring, and then we just kind of lost communication with him. And many of us had reached out to him, but we just never heard back. So, you know, a little communication goes a long way. The same thing with transparency in our local office in Worthington.”
Zaleski said the $2 million is the largest fix the town’s received so far, but that more money will be needed to fix the root cause of the problem, which is the town aged vacuum system that needs to be replaced with a gravity-fed system.
While more work needs to be done before Worthington is finally rid of its vacuum sewage system, Starcher just hopes the town can come together again. After learning the town had no Christmas decorations, he saw an opportunity to take on a project with the hope of healing the division in the town. He asked county commissioners for help funding town decorations for next Christmas.
All Starcher wants is to see a Christmas Tree light up downtown again. The town and its residents have been through a lot.
“A lot of stuff has been said on both sides, and I can speak from experience when you are standing at your basement and looking at a basement full of sewage water, it’s really hard to be nice,” Starcher said.
“It’s really hard to talk to people in a rational tone. So, I’ve been through it, and I’ve been told things that weren’t true by Worthington over the years. So, I’m really thankful for the [money]. I’m hopeful for our town that we can start to rebuild the relationships.”
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