WINFIELD - Putnam County commissioners hope to secure a loan of at least $5.5 million to help bring water to 184 households.

On Tuesday, commissioners unanimously voted to apply for a zero-interest, 40-year loan from the state's Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council to fund 11 waterline extension projects throughout the county.

Last week, construction bids went out on another project, which will bring water to more than 100 homes at a cost of $3 million.

Last month, engineer Jennifer Miller of Terradon Corp. - which is doing engineering work for those extensions - presented cost estimates of water projects that have not yet been done. More than 300 Putnam households have made formal requests for waterlines.

Commissioner Gary Tillis had asked that commissioners study Terradon's summary and decide on the most cost-effective projects.

Tillis said loan payments for the 11 areas discussed Tuesday would cost the county about $140,000 a year.

"I look at it as an investment," he said. "Their property taxes are going to increase immediately."

And time is of the essence for getting started on the projects, he said.

"If you believe all the experts, there's a good chance we're going to see inflation," he said.

He also said county officials need to show the state they are pitching in for infrastructure projects: "They're not going to keep funding these through grants if you're not putting in some of your own money."

WINFIELD - Putnam County commissioners hope to secure a loan of at least $5.5 million to help bring water to 184 households.

On Tuesday, commissioners unanimously voted to apply for a zero-interest, 40-year loan from the state's Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council to fund 11 waterline extension projects throughout the county.

Last week, construction bids went out on another project, which will bring water to more than 100 homes at a cost of $3 million.

Last month, engineer Jennifer Miller of Terradon Corp. - which is doing engineering work for those extensions - presented cost estimates of water projects that have not yet been done. More than 300 Putnam households have made formal requests for waterlines.

Commissioner Gary Tillis had asked that commissioners study Terradon's summary and decide on the most cost-effective projects.

Tillis said loan payments for the 11 areas discussed Tuesday would cost the county about $140,000 a year.

"I look at it as an investment," he said. "Their property taxes are going to increase immediately."

And time is of the essence for getting started on the projects, he said.

"If you believe all the experts, there's a good chance we're going to see inflation," he said.

He also said county officials need to show the state they are pitching in for infrastructure projects: "They're not going to keep funding these through grants if you're not putting in some of your own money."

Miller told commissioners that West Virginia American Water Co. officials have recently indicated that they would increase their contributions to waterline extensions.

She said she would prepare the county's loan application by the infrastructure council's deadline of April 20.

The waterline extensions discussed Tuesday were:

Clymer Creek Road, 15 homes.

Turkey Creek, 25 homes.

Trace Fork/Mud River, 24 homes.

Sigmon Fork, 10 homes.

Bethel Road/Dunlap Ridge, 23 homes.

Kelly's Creek, five homes.

Low Gap, five homes.

Painters Fork Road, 16 homes.

Bronco Junction Road, two homes.

Coleman Creek Road, six homes.

Manila Ridge, 53 homes.

Also Tuesday:

Commissioners heard a dispute between county animal shelter employees and a man named James Parsons.

In November, Parsons had taken care of dozens of farm animals - five cows, 27 goats, 37 sheep and a llama - that humane officers had seized from a neglectful owner.

Animal shelter Director Terry Williams said she had provided Parsons with more than enough food for the animals.

But Parsons said the county owes him several thousand dollars because the food wasn't enough, and he had to rent trucks and pay people to transport the animals.

"He never told us anything about any truck rentals or having to pay people," Williams told commissioners. "I don't want him getting shafted on this, but we just don't have that kind of money."

Commissioners told Parsons to bring them receipts from the truck rentals. They also asked county attorney Jennifer Scragg to consult with the prosecutor's office because charges had been filed against the animals' owner, who has since died. There could be court fines that might be used to help settle the dispute.

Jack Henry and Gary Midkiff of Carbonoks LLC made a presentation about their product, a rescue chamber called "Safe Haven" designed to protect miners against disasters. Their company is based at the Rock Branch Industrial Park.

Commissioners met with Assessor Peachie Arthur, prosecutor Mark Sorsaia and Chief Tax Deputy Rob Fewell to discuss the logistics of a crackdown on delinquent taxpayers. Sorsaia asked Fewell to forward him a quarterly list of delinquent taxpayers, and said he would ask law enforcement to check up on businesses that haven't paid taxes.

To contact staff writer Alison Knezevich, use e-mail or call 348-1240.