Claywood Park Public Service District General Manager Shayne Brabham appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday seeking a rate increase for both water and sewer services which the commission approved. Brabham said the increases were needed to keep up with the rising costs of inflation. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission unanimously approved rate increases for water and sewer service for the Claywood Park Public Service District.

Claywood Park Public Service District General Manager Shayne Brabham appeared before the commission Monday seeking approval for the rate increases which was initially approved by the PSD’s board on July 8. The commission has final approval.

“The utility business is not immune to the rising costs from inflation on both water and sewer,” Brabham said.

The increase will be done in a two-step process.

There are three different rates charged by the PSD for customers who live in different areas, described by Brabham as “Schedules.” Brabham said they are working to eventually combine all of the schedules together into one rate for water and one rate for sewer for customers across the entire district which will happen with adjustments and more in the coming years.

The district provides water service to around 4,000 customers and sewer service to 1,922 customers in the district which has customers in both Wood and Wirt counties.

The Schedule I area makes up the majority of Claywood Park’s customers. The Schedule II coverage area includes Deerwalk, Camp Barbe, W.Va. 14 and Mountwood Park. The Schedule III area includes the Walker-Kites Run and Little Kanawha Estates areas.

Currently the district charges a minimum water bill of $30.15 for Schedule 1 customers, $52.20 for Schedule II and $36.30 for Schedule III. The new approved rate increase in the first step will charge $37.11 for Schedule I, $52.20 for Schedule II and $37.11 for Schedule III.

With that Schedule I and Schedule III will be paying the same amount while Schedule II customers will not see their rates go up this time, Brabham said.

This increase will go into effect on Aug. 22. The Step 2 increase will go into effect in a year on Aug. 22, 2026.

At that time, the combined Schedule I and Schedule III rates will increase on a minimum water bill to $40.86 while Schedule II will remain at $52.20.

“The long term plan is to eventually merge all (the Schedule I, II and III rates) into one,” Brabham said. “That way we will have one rate across the board.”

The sewer rates for Claywood Park PSD are for one amount for all customers across the district.

Currently, the district’s average sewer bill for the statewide average of 3,400 gallons is $64.79, Brabham said.

The Step 1 increase will go up to $71.27 for the average amount on Aug. 22, 2025. The Step 2 increase will go up to $76.32 for the average amount that will go into effect on Aug. 22, 2026.

“(The rate increases) will enable the District to operate in a solvent manner, fully fund its cash working capital reserve fund account and cover the increased costs caused by inflation,” according to a summary provided by the district.

The increases will also allow the district to cover the inflationary increases in costs of electric power, chemicals, and labor as well as hire a couple of additional employees for water and sewer service, officials said.

Wood County Commission President Blair Couch said he received a call from an individual in Wirt County who wanted to see more representation of the PSD’s board from Wirt County.

Brabham said they would certainly be open to having someone from Wirt County on the board. People can inquire with the PSD about when the current terms are up and what the process would be to have their names put into consideration.

Claywood Park officials estimated around 15-20% of their customers live in Wirt County.

“They would be welcome, as long as they were customers,” Brabham said.