West Virginia Water Development Authority Story Archives

State Water Agency Invests $20 Million In Infrastructure Projects

The West Virginia Water Development Authority announced Wednesday that it would invest $20 million in water, wastewater and sewage infrastructure upgrades across the state.

The agency that oversees West Virginia’s water infrastructure, the Water Development Authority (WDA), announced Wednesday it would invest nearly $20 million in water system improvements across the state.

The new round of funding will aid 10 water, wastewater and sewage infrastructure projects in West Virginia. For years, water systems in the state have struggled due to aging infrastructure and decreased funding.

The funds come from the state’s Economic Enhancement Grant Fund, which has approved $400 million in projects since its creation in April 2022.

The following projects will receive support through the new round of WDA funding:

Morgantown Utility Board, Monongalia County: $6,750,000 to renovate a wastewater treatment plant and a lift station to increase overall capacity.
Greenbrier County Public Service District #2, Greenbrier County: $3,527,000 to extend water service to about 360 new users in rural towns.
Hancock County Public Service District, Hancock County: $3,449,014 5o upgrade sewer infrastructure.
Putnam County Commission, Putnam County: $1,841,175 to provide potable water to the community of Custer Ridge.
Cottageville Public Service District, Jackson County: $1,350,000 to extend water lines to an industrial site in the town of Millwood.
Clarksburg Sewer Board, Harrison County: $1,000,000 to separate storm sewers.
Pineville, Wyoming County: $980,000 to upgrade water system.
Midland Public Service District, Randolph County: $365,000 to build two new tanks that store water.
Paden City, Tyler and Wetzel counties: $310,000 to replace water lines to address infiltration issues.
Spencer Waterworks, Roane County: $300,000 to replace a pump station.

Justice Names New Director of Water Authority

Gov. Jim Justice has appointed a new executive director of the West Virginia Water Development Authority that finances construction of wastewater and water facilities for local government agencies.

Marie Prezioso, who was an authority board member, replaces Chris Jarrett, who retired.

She retired last year as senior vice president and manager of the West Virginia public finance office for Piper Jaffary & Co., an investment bank and asset management firm.

Prezioso, from Charleston, is the sister of state Senate Democratic Minority Leader Roman Prezioso.

Justice replaced her on the authority board with Gary Sutphin, who retired in 2013 as recorder/treasurer from the city of Beckley.

State Reviewing Water Authority's Purchasing Card Statements

State investigators are reviewing the West Virginia Water Development Authority’s use of a state-issued purchasing card as part of an investigation into spending practices at the authority.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that the authority turned over its monthly purchasing card statements to the Legislature’s Commission on Special Investigations last week after investigators had requested them.

The state has also requested a receipt for a $300 purchase at Best Buy in 2012 and federal tax forms for three temporary workers.

Investigators are currently reviewing spending and hiring practices at the water authority, which issues bonds that fund water and sewer projects across the state.

The water authority has hired temporary workers and provided them with various perks including paid holidays and the use of state-owned vehicles.

Water Board Member Paid $58K Despite 5-Year Absence

A West Virginia Water Development Authority board member was paid $58,300 over the past five years by the state, despite the fact that he never attended a board meeting during that time.

Citing meeting minutes, the Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that Robert F. Hatfield last took part in a board meeting in August 2011 but continued receiving a $12,000 annual salary.

Hatfield’s term on the board officially expired in June 2012, but he stayed on the agency payroll until June 1, the same week the newspaper inquired about Hatfield receiving payments for missed meetings.

Water authority executive director Chris Jarrett says state law required that Hatfield be paid until the governor appointed a replacement last week.

Hatfield could not be reached for comment.

Authorities Search Water Agency Building for Wiretaps

Charleston police have conducted a search for wiretaps at the West Virginia Water Development Authority building amid allegations of ethics violations.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that police did not find any hidden listening devices during last week’s wiretap sweep.

Water Development Authority Executive Director Chris Jarrett says he asked detectives to search the offices for wiretaps to check for unauthorized electronics.

The sweep comes after a dispute between the agency’s geographic information system manager Michael Duminiak and two agency employees including Jarrett and Water Development Authority Executive Assistant Carol Cummings.

Duminiak had filed complaints with the state’s ethics commission, accusing Jarrett and Cummings of various ethics violations.

According to emails obtained by the newspaper, Duminiak says Cummings accused him of hacking employees’ computers and tampering with the security system. Duminiak also accuses Cummings of secretly recording conversations on her smartphone.