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BEECH BOTTOM - The village of Beech Bottom has two side-by-side water tanks that are going to see nearly $300,000 in repairs in the coming weeks with help from the state of West Virginia.
Additional state money will also go toward a long-awaited water main and fire hydrant project along Route 2 in the village.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey made the announcement Thursday during a stop at the Cornerstone Christian Academy.
He noted "we need clean, clear water" in our communities as well as good roads, available energy and broadband. These are basic necessities and "we have to do the basics right," he said.
"That's ultimately how we are going to grow," Morrisey said.
Morrisey was joined by local and state leaders to announce more than $3.3 million in critical water infrastructure funding dedicated directly to the Village of Beech Bottom.
He explained Beech Bottom has two side-by-side water tanks. The first one has a leaking valve and work will begin immediately to repair the leak with no service interruptions expected.
The second tank, meanwhile, has been out of service due to a floor crack threatening the foundation of both tanks. This second tank will undergo full floor repairs and the project is expected to take four to six weeks once work begins.
The state is covering 100% of the $283,000 required to repair both tanks, which collectively serve about 550 residents and industrial sites.
Money will be provided through the Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council's Critical Needs Fund.
The investment will repair essential water storage tanks and complete a long-awaited water main and fire hydrant project along Route 2, stabilizing water service and boosting economic development in the Northern Panhandle.
Morrisey reported the state also will contribute $400,000 from the Governor's Civil Contingent Fund to complete a $3 million package for the Route 2 Water Main and Fire Hydrant Loop project. He explained the state contribution breaks a multi-year deadlock caused by rising construction costs after federal money was awarded for the project in 2020.
Combined with funding from the Water Development Authority, IJDC loans, local debt taken on by the Beech Bottom Water Board and the original federal grant, the complete package allows construction to begin immediately.
The project closes a critical loop in the village water system, eliminating pressure drop-offs during heavy industrial use and placing fire hydrants along the entire length of the Beech Bottom Industrial Park, according to Morrisey.
Joining Morrisey at the podium for the announcements on Thursday were State Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio; Delegate Jimmy Willis, R-Brooke; Beech Bottom Mayor Becky Uhlly; and Brooke County Commissioner Stacey Hukill-Wise.