MATEWAN— In what was termed a “brainstorming session,” customers who are serviced by the Red Jacket sewer system met with officials to discuss what can be done to repair or replace the non-functioning system.

The Public Service District ordered Matewan to take over the 23-year-old system over two years ago. The system services 90 to 100 homes, or approximately 225 people.

Customers pay the sewage fee, which is based on usage, to the town of Matewan, which turns the payments over to an accountant — Todd Dingess, with the firm Smith, Cochran and Hicks of Charleston. After deducting administrative costs, those funds are supposed to be reimbursed to Matewan, explained Mayor Shelia Kessler.

“We have not, in the past 20 years, received any money from Todd Dingess,” Kessler said. “The PSD ordered us to run the system and to pay administrative costs. He was set up by the PSD in a receivership position, but he will not take our calls about the system.”

The Daily News attempted to contact Dingess’ office, but calls were unanswered.

After recent flooding, personnel with the Federal Emergency Management Agency discovered that the sewage system was not functioning. FEMA order-ed the Town of Matewan to repair the system.

However, the town does not have the money that would be required to get the system up and running.

It has been estimated that repairs would cost between $4 and $5 million, while a new system would run $6 million to $7 million.

Jarrod Fletcher, director of the Mingo County Office of Emergency Services (OES) said he had spoken to Jimmy Jimetta, the state OES Director, about the situation. He said Jimetta has been working with FEMA to find ways to fund repairs to the system.

If the system cannot be repaired, Fletcher said, it was his understanding that FEMA would give the town some money toward replacement costs.

“FEMA has agreed to pay E.L. Robinson [an engineering firm] to work on the system,” Fletcher said. “Matewan would be a sponsor, and they would help pay the costs.”

Mingo County Commis-sioner Greg “Hootie” Smith said there was a possibility that the county could help the town as well.

“If Matewan can pay the costs of the system up front, then FEMA will reimburse them,” Smith said. “The county may be able to step in and give Matewan some money to cover the up-front costs, and they could pay us back when they receive payment from FEMA.”

Several customers of the system were at Matewan City Hall, and asked what they could do to expedite the process.

“By working together, we can find the correct way to approach this problem,” Commissioner Smith said. “We will figure out how and where to get the money we need.”