CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Three water projects in eastern Kanawha County are moving forward after the Kanawha County Commission last week approved the efforts in the Pentacre, Coalburg and Paint Creek areas.
The $5.5 million work will go toward supplying 60 households with water from West Virginia American Water Company compared to the use of well water. Funding for the project will come from the federal government’s Abandoned Mine Lands program.
Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said Thursday the projects have been in the works for around seven years, with the Coalburg and Paint Creek projects causing issues.
“The hold up has been a coal company and a land-owning company not wanting to do easements, and frankly, we’ve had enough of that,” he said. “We voted this evening to proceed with eminent domain if necessary.”
A Kanawha County representative identified Ford Coal Company and Pardee Mining LCC as the groups affecting the Coalburg and Paint Creek projects respectively. The commission voted to condemn the properties at its Dec. 14 meeting if nothing changes, noting the use of eminent domain to force the projects to move forward.
“Interestingly enough, when they found that out they now said they were going to go along with it,” Carper added.
The commission president added the project would benefit the West Virginia Turnpike, in which water access will provide fire protection in that area.
The county commission hopes to begin accepting bids in the spring.