MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County commissioners are talking about how negotiations for the new payment in lieu of taxes agreement with Longview Power have progressed.
Groups like the Sierra Club and the Monongalia County Coalition for Clean Air have opposed the Longview Power expansion, accusing the commission of holding private negotiations. The opposing organizations also claim the commission is giving tax breaks, and the agreement is not in the best interests of taxpayers.
Commissioners Ed Hawkins, Tom Bloom and Sean Sikora appeared on WAJR-AM’s “Talk of the Town” last week to explain their side of the negotiations.
“We started last spring We had a lot of discussions, we had a lot of back and forth to get the point that we could approve a term sheet in September,” Sikora said. “That’s where we’ve been. The term sheet that defines everything we still have to work out. We haven’t as a group met with Longview since September.”
Sikora said much work has been dedicated to developing an escrow agreement, the PILOT agreement, the lease and the facilities development agreement that will govern the relationship between the county Longview Power.
“There’s the process going on with us negotiating the actual PILOT agreement and the PSC process that is currently going on and is completely transparent,” Sikora said. “We’ve even offered our commission chamber for a public meeting.”
Sikora noted most of the negotiations involving hundreds of pages of terms of conditions have been conducted by lawyers representing each entity. The latest draft is in the hands of a Longview Power attorney for review and comment.
Sikora added the draft agreement would provide the county with more money compared to if there was no development and only property taxes were collected.
“The three properties that Longview owns and will build on, bring in about $3,800 a year in taxes,” Sikora said. “The payment in lieu of taxes agreement when the facility is built will be $58 million over 30 years.”
The state Public Service Commission’s work regarding the project continues.