The Mingo County Commission was on hand, along with Public Service District (PSD) Director J.B. Heflin and Delegate Steve Kominar, at a meeting to announce that the $9 million project is accepting bids for the construction of the first phase of the water system.
“Putting this out to bid is really exciting for us,” Commissioner Greg “Hootie” Smith told the crowd of approximately 100 who had come to hear a progress update on the project. “We could not put this out for bid until we had the funding in place, and now it is.”
He said the commission hopes to get construction started early next year.
“This is a done deal,” Smith said. “The money is there. I know people want to see the dirt moved, and hopefully, in January, we will be here with shovels.”
Smith went on to explain construction cannot begin immediately after bids are opened, as each bid must be confirmed as being in line with the requirements of the project.
“Those bids will be opened in an open meeting at the PSD Oct. 27, and we encourage everyone to be there.”
Commissioner David Baisden said he and his fellow commissioners have taken a personal interest in the Dingess project, as it has been the a longstanding goal of the MCC to ensure all of Mingo County has potable water.
“When I got the news that this project was funded and moving forward, it brought tears to my eyes,” Baisden.
Kominar said he felt the project had come to fruition as the result of a grassroots movement in Dingess of families who simply wanted to improve their quality of life.
“It took years to make this happen,” Kominar said. “But, thanks to this community, it has finally has. By working together, you have proved that you can make things happen. I want to thank all of you.”
Officials explained that families can still get onto the water system by paying a reduced hook-up fee of $100, instead of the usual $350, but they didn't know how long the USDA would extend that reduced rate.
Three contractors will be chosen for the initial phase of the project, one company for installation of tanks and two for the installation of two lines. Heflin said that while he cannot speak for any of the companies who are bidding on the project, he expects extra construction workers will have to be hired to complete the work, and that some of those additional hires may be local people.
Earmel and Alberta Messer attended the meeting to expressed their gratitude for the project. They currently use water from a well, which has to be filtered before it can be used, Alberta said. She added her son and his family also treat their water, but it still cannot be used to wash all their clothes.
“I am 69 years old, I have lived here all my life,” Earmel said. “I have to say this is one of the best things that has happened here. This is good for the community, its good for the kids. I want to thank these commissioners. This is truly a blessing, and I am proud of them.”
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