The entire city of McMechen continues to be under a boil order, as the small Marshall County city currently is without a qualified water operator on staff.

According to McMechen Mayor Joshua Phillips, a qualified operator is needed to sign off on the city’s books daily, in accordance with state law. After discussions with the West Virginia Office of Environmental Health, the city is under a temporary boil order until the situation is resolved.

The city has been advertising for a new water operator, and there have been people interested in the job, but Phillips said the job requires a specific license that those who have been interested don’t own.

“That’s probably the biggest obstacle in general,” he said. “There’s a shortage around the state.”

The city is still testing its water every day, Phillips said, and there have been no issues with its quality so far, but without a qualified operator to sign off, the boil order remains in place. Phillips did say city officials were in discussions with the state on ways to solve the issue in the short term.

“We’ve been working with the state both on filling the position and whether we might be able to have someone come in in the short term,” he said. “We’re trying to see what our options are.”

Anyone interested in the job can call the McMechen city office at 304-232-3140, drop off an application in person at the office at 325 Logan Street in McMechen or email a resume to either mayor@mcmechen.wv.gov or cityclerk@mcmechen.wv.gov.