HUNTINGTON – Steel of West Virginia has filed a petition and is seeking injunctive relief against Huntington Sanitary Board and the city council, alleging it failed to give proper notice for increased sewer rates.
SWVA claims the sanitary board and city council failed to give the proper 30-day notice to the public regarding the matter, according to a complaint filed Dec. 27 in Cabell Circuit Court.
In November, the Huntington municipal elections resulted in seven new members being elected to the 11-member City Council, many of whom have expressed opposition to increases in taxes, fees and utility rates. The new term for the City Council will begin in January.
On Dec. 4, an article appeared in the Herald-Dispatch in which it was reported that the HSB would be holding a special meeting the following day to consider a sewer rate increase, according to the suit. An ordinance was submitted to the City Council and the council voted to refer the ordinance without amendment to the council’s finance committee.
On Dec. 20, SWVA contacted the HSB and the City Council to inquire about the location where SWVA could inspect a copy of the entire proposal setting forth a description of the construction project, rates, fees and charges and the SWVA was directed to the HSB. To date, HSB has not identified a location.
SWVA claims as a customer of HSB, it will be affected by the passage of the ordinance.
SWVA claims the increase will raise their bill by $300,000 by the end of the final phase.
Cabell Circuit Court case number: 16-C-807