ARTICLE 13A. PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICTS.

§16-13A-1. Legislative findings.

The Legislature of the State of West Virginia hereby determines and finds that the present system of public service districts within the state has provided a valuable service at a reasonable cost to persons who would otherwise have been unable to obtain public utility services. To further this effort, and to insure that all areas of the state are benefiting from the availability of public service district utility services and to further correct areas with health hazards, the Legislature concludes that it is in the best interest of the public to implement better management of public service district resources by expanding the ability and the authority of the Public Service Commission to assist public service districts by offering advice and assistance in operational, financial and regulatory affairs.

In addition to the expanded powers which shall be given to the Public Service Commission, the Legislature also concludes that it is in the best interest of the public for each county commission to review current technology available and consider consolidating existing public service districts where it is feasible and will not result in the interference with existing bond instruments. Further, if such consolidation is not feasible, the Legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the public for each county commission to review current technology available and consider consolidating or centralizing the management of public service districts within its county or multicounty area to achieve efficiency of operations. The Legislature also finds that additional guidelines should be imposed on the creation of new public service districts and that county commissions shall dissolve inactive public service districts as hereinafter provided. The Legislature also finds that the Public Service Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the expanded powers given to the commission relating to public service districts.

§16-13A-1a. Jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission.

The jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission relating to public service districts shall be expanded to include the following powers and the powers shall be in addition to all other powers of the Public Service Commission set forth in this code:

(a) To study, modify, approve, deny or amend the plans created under section one-b of this article for consolidation or merger of public service districts and their facilities, personnel or administration;

(b) To petition the appropriate circuit court for the removal of a public service district board member or members; and

(c) To create by general order a separate division within the Public Service Commission to provide assistance to public service districts in technological, operational, financial and regulatory matters, including, upon written request of the public service board, assistance to the board in deliberations regarding a proposed rate change or project.

§16-13A-1b. County commissions to develop plan to create, consolidate, merge, expand or dissolve public service districts.

Each county commission shall conduct a study of all public service districts which have their principal offices within its county and shall develop a plan relating to the creation, consolidation, merger, expansion or dissolution of such districts or the consolidation or merger of management and administrative services and personnel and shall present such plan to the Public Service Commission for approval, disapproval, or modification: Provided, That within ninety days of the effective date of this section each county commission in this state shall elect either to perform its own study or request that the Public Service Commission perform such study. Each county commission electing to perform its own study has one year from the date of election to present such plan to the Public Service Commission. For each county wherein the county commission elects not to perform its own study, the Public Service Commission shall conduct a study of such county. The Public Service Commission shall establish a schedule for such studies upon a priority basis, with those counties perceived to have the greatest need of creation or consolidation of public service districts receiving the highest priority. In establishing the priority schedule, and in the performance of each study, the bureau of public health and the Division of Environmental Protection shall offer their assistance and cooperation to the Public Service Commission. Upon completion by the Public Service Commission of each study, it shall be submitted to the appropriate county commission for review and comment. Each county commission has six months in which to review the study conducted by the Public Service Commission, suggest changes or modifications thereof, and present such plan to the Public Service Commission. All county plans, whether conducted by the county commission itself or submitted as a result of a Public Service Commission study, shall, by order, be approved, disapproved or modified by the Public Service Commission in accordance with rules promulgated by the Public Service Commission and such order shall be implemented by the county commission.

§16-13A-1c. General purpose of districts.

Any territory constituting the whole or any part of one or more counties in the state so situated that the construction or acquisition by purchase or otherwise and the maintenance, operation, improvement and extension of, properties supplying water, sewerage or stormwater services or gas distribution services or all of these within such territory, will be conducive to the preservation of the public health, comfort and convenience of such area, may be constituted a public service district under and in the manner provided by this article. The words "public service properties," when used in this article, shall mean and include any facility used or to be used for or in connection with: (1) The diversion, development, pumping, impounding, treatment, storage, distribution or furnishing of water to or for the public for industrial, public, private or other uses (herein sometimes referred to as "water facilities"); (2) the collection, treatment, purification or disposal of liquid or solid wastes, sewage or industrial wastes (herein sometimes referred to as "sewer facilities" or "landfills"); (3) the distribution or the furnishing of natural gas to the public for industrial, public, private or other uses (herein sometimes referred to as "gas utilities or gas system"); or (4) the collection, control or disposal of stormwater (herein sometimes referred to as "stormwater system" or "stormwater systems"), or (5) the management, operation, maintenance and control of stormwater and stormwater systems (herein sometimes referred to as "stormwater management program" or "stormwater management programs"). As used in this article "stormwater system" or "stormwater systems" means a stormwater system in its entirety or any integral part thereof used to collect, control or dispose of stormwater, and includes all facilities, structures and natural water courses used for collecting and conducting stormwater to, through and from drainage areas to the points of final outlet including, but not limited to, any and all of the following: Inlets, conduits, outlets, channels, ponds, drainage easements, water quality facilities, catch basins, ditches, streams, gulches, flumes, culverts, siphons, retention or detention basins, dams, floodwalls, pipes, flood control systems, levies and pumping stations: Provided, That the term "stormwater system" or "stormwater systems" does not include highways, road and drainage easements, or stormwater facilities constructed, owned or operated by the West Virginia Division of Highways. As used in this article "stormwater management program" or "stormwater management programs" means those activities associated with the management, operation, maintenance and control of stormwater and stormwater systems, and includes, but is not limited to, public education, stormwater and surface runoff water quality improvement, mapping, planning, flood control, inspection, enforcement and any other activities required by state and federal law: Provided, however, That the term "stormwater management program" or "stormwater management programs" does not include those activities associated with the management, operation, maintenance and control of highways, road and drainage easements, or stormwater facilities constructed, owned or operated by the West Virginia Division of Highways without the express agreement of the commissioner of highways.

§16-13A-2. Creation of districts by county commission; enlarging, reducing, merging, or dissolving district; consolidation; agreements, etc.; infringing upon powers of county commission; filing list of members and districts with the Secretary of State.

(a) The county commission of any county may propose the creation, enlargement, reduction, merger, dissolution, or consolidation of a public service district by any of the following methods: (1) On its own motion by order duly adopted, (2) upon the recommendation of the Public Service Commission, or (3) by petition of twenty-five percent of the registered voters who reside within the limits of the proposed public service district within one or more counties. The petition shall contain a description, including metes and bounds, sufficient to identify the territory to be embraced therein and the name of such proposed district: Provided, That after the effective date of this section, no new public service district shall be created, enlarged, reduced, merged, dissolved or consolidated under this section without the written consent and approval of the Public Service Commission, which approval and consent shall be in accordance with rules promulgated by the Public Service Commission and may only be requested after consent is given by the appropriate county commission or commissions pursuant to this section. Any territory may be included regardless of whether or not the territory includes one or more cities, incorporated towns or other municipal corporations which own and operate any public service properties and regardless of whether or not it includes one or more cities, incorporated towns or other municipal corporations being served by privately owned public service properties: Provided, however, That the same territory shall not be included within the boundaries of more than one public service district except where the territory or part thereof is included within the boundaries of a separate public service district organized to supply water, sewerage services, stormwater services or gas facilities not being furnished within such territory or part thereof: Provided further, That no city, incorporated town or other municipal corporation shall be included within the boundaries of the proposed district except upon the adoption of a resolution of the governing body of the city, incorporated town or other municipal corporation consenting.

(b) The petition shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the county commission of the county in which the territory to constitute the proposed district is situated, and if the territory is situated in more than one county, then the petition shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the county commission of the county in which the major portion of the territory extends, and a copy thereof (omitting signatures) shall be filed with each of the clerks of the county commission of the other county or counties into which the territory extends. The clerk of the county commission receiving such petition shall present it to the county commission of the county at the first regular meeting after the filing or at a special meeting called for the consideration thereof.

(c) When the county commission of any county enters an order on its own motion proposing the creation, enlargement, reduction, merger, dissolution or consolidation of a public service district, as aforesaid, or when a petition for the creation is presented, as aforesaid, the county commission shall at the same session fix a date of hearing in the county on the creation, enlargement, reduction, merger, dissolution or consolidation of the proposed public service district, which date so fixed shall be not more than forty days nor less than twenty days from the date of the action. Within ten days of fixing the date of hearing, the county commission shall provide the Executive Secretary of the Public Service Commission with a copy of the order or petition and notification of the time and place of the hearing to be held by the county commission. If the territory proposed to be included is situated in more than one county, the county commission, when fixing a date of hearing, shall provide for notifying the county commission and clerk thereof of each of the other counties into which the territory extends of the date so fixed. The clerk of the county commission of each county in which any territory in the proposed public service district is located shall cause notice of the hearing and the time and place thereof, and setting forth a description of all of the territory proposed to be included therein to be given by publication as a Class I legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, and the publication area for the publication shall be by publication in each city, incorporated town or municipal corporation if available in each county in which any territory in the proposed public service district is located. The publication shall be at least ten days prior to the hearing.

(d) In all cases where proceedings for the creation, enlargement, reduction, merger, dissolution or consolidation of the public service districts are initiated by petition as aforesaid, the person filing the petition shall advance or satisfactorily indemnify the payment of the cost and expenses of publishing the hearing notice, and otherwise the costs and expenses of the notice shall be paid in the first instance by the county commission out of contingent funds or any other funds available or made available for that purpose. In addition to the notice required herein to be published, there shall also be posted in at least five conspicuous places in the proposed public service district, a notice containing the same information as is contained in the published notice. The posted notices shall be posted not less than ten days before the hearing.

(e) All persons residing in or owning or having any interest in property in the proposed public service district shall have an opportunity to be heard for and against its creation, enlargement, reduction, merger, dissolution or consolidation. At the hearing the county commission before which the hearing is conducted shall consider and determine the feasibility of the creation, enlargement, reduction, merger, dissolution or consolidation of the proposed district. If the county commission determines that the construction or acquisition by purchase or otherwise and maintenance, operation, improvement and extension of public service properties by the public service district will be conducive to the preservation of public health, comfort and convenience of such area, the county commission shall by order create, enlarge, reduce, merge, dissolve or consolidate such public service district. If the county commission, after due consideration, determines that the proposed district will not be conducive to the preservation of public health, comfort or convenience of the area or that the creation, enlargement, reduction, merger, dissolution or consolidation of the proposed district as set forth and described in the petition or order is not feasible, it may refuse to enter an order creating the district or it may enter an order amending the description of the proposed district and create, enlarge, reduce, merge, dissolve or consolidate the district as amended.

(f) If the county commission determines that any other public service district or districts can adequately serve the area of the proposed public service district, whether by enlargement, reduction, merger, dissolution or consolidation, it shall refuse to enter the order, but shall enter an order creating, enlarging, reducing, merging, dissolving or consolidating the area with an existing public service district, in accordance with rules adopted by the Public Service Commission for such purpose: Provided, That no enlargement of a public service district may occur if the present or proposed physical facilities of the public service district are determined by the appropriate county commission or the Public Service Commission to be inadequate to provide such enlarged service. The clerk of the county commission of each county into which any part of such district extends shall retain in his office an authentic copy of the order creating, enlarging, reducing, merging, dissolving or consolidating the district: Provided, however, That within ten days after the entry of an order creating, enlarging, reducing, merging, dissolving or consolidating a district, such order must be filed for review and approval by the Public Service Commission. The Public Service Commission may provide a hearing in the affected county on the matter and may approve, reject or modify the order of the county commission if it finds it is in the best interests of the public to do so. The Public Service Commission shall adopt rules relating to such filings and the approval, disapproval or modification of county commission orders for creating, enlarging, merging, dissolving or consolidating districts. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the implementation by a county commission of an order issued by the Public Service Commission pursuant to this section and section one-b, of this article.

(g) The county commission may, if in its discretion it deems it necessary, feasible and proper, enlarge the district to include additional areas, reduce the area of the district, where facilities, equipment, service or materials have not been extended, or dissolve the district if inactive or create or consolidate two or more such districts. If consolidation of districts is not feasible, the county commission may consolidate and centralize management and administration of districts within its county or multicounty area to achieve efficiency of operations: Provided, That where the county commission determines on its own motion by order entered of record, or there is a petition to enlarge the district, merge and consolidate districts, or the management and administration thereof, reduce the area of the district or dissolve the district if inactive, all of the applicable provisions of this article providing for hearing, notice of hearing and approval by the Public Service Commission shall apply. The Commission shall at all times attempt to bring about the enlargement or merger of existing public service districts in order to provide increased services and to eliminate the need for creation of new public service districts in those areas which are not currently serviced by a public service district: Provided, however, That where two or more public service districts are consolidated pursuant to this section, any rate differentials may continue for the period of bonded indebtedness incurred prior to consolidation. The districts may not enter into any agreement, contract or covenant that infringes upon, impairs, abridges or usurps the duties, rights or powers of the county commission, as set forth in this article, or conflicts with any provision of this article.

(h) A list of all districts and their current board members shall be filed by the county commission with the Secretary of State and the Public Service Commission by July 1, of each year.

§16-13A-3. District to be a public corporation and political subdivision; powers thereof; public service boards.

From and after the date of the adoption of the order creating any public service district, it is a public corporation and political subdivision of the state, but without any power to levy or collect ad valorem taxes. Each district may acquire, own, and hold property, both real and personal, in its corporate name, and may sue, may be sued, may adopt an official seal, and may enter into contracts necessary or incidental to its purposes, including contracts with any city, incorporated town, or other municipal corporation located within or without its boundaries for furnishing wholesale supply of water for the distribution system of the city, town, or other municipal corporation, or for furnishing stormwater services for the city, town, or other municipal corporation, and contract for the operation, maintenance, servicing, repair, and extension of any properties owned by it or for the operation and improvement or extension by the district of all or any part of the existing municipally owned public service properties of any city, incorporated town, or other municipal corporation included within the district: Provided, That no contract may extend beyond a maximum of 40 years, but provisions may be included therein for a renewal or successive renewals thereof and shall conform to and comply with the rights of the holders of any outstanding bonds issued by the municipalities for the public service properties.

The powers of each public service district shall be vested in and exercised by a public service board consisting of not less than three members who shall be persons residing within the district, who possess certain educational, business, or work experience which will be conducive to operating a public service district, with the exception, however, that in the event a public service board has had a vacancy for more than one year one member of the public service board may be a county commissioner of the county commission with authority to appoint the members of the board regardless of whether the commissioner resides within the district. In the event the public service district is providing any utility service and billing rates and charges to its customers, at least one board member shall be a rate-paying residential customer of the public service district: Provided, That if an existing public service board does not have a member who is a rate-paying residential customer of the public service district on July 1, 2013, the next following appointment to the board shall be a rate-paying residential customer of that public service district. For purposes of this section, “rate-paying residential customer” means a person who:

(1) In the case of a water or sewer public service district, is physically connected to and actively receiving residential public service district utility services; or

(2) In the case of a stormwater public service district, has storm water conveyed away from the residential property by a utility-owned system; and

(3) Has an active account in good standing and is the occupier of the residential property which is on the public service district utility service account.

Each board member shall, within six months of taking office, successfully complete the training program to be established and administered by the Public Service Commission in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection and the Bureau for Public Health. Board members may not be or become pecuniarily interested, directly or indirectly, in the proceeds of any contract or service, or in furnishing any supplies or materials to the district nor may a former board member be hired by the district in any capacity within a minimum of 12 months after the board member's term has expired or the board member has resigned from the district board. The members shall be appointed in the following manner:

Each city, incorporated town, or other municipal corporation having a population of more than 3,000 but less than 18,000 is entitled to appoint one member of the board, and each city, incorporated town, or other municipal corporation having a population in excess of 18,000 shall be entitled to appoint one additional member of the board for each additional 18,000 in population. The members of the board representing such cities, incorporated towns, or other municipal corporations shall be residents thereof and shall be appointed by a resolution of the governing bodies thereof and upon the filing of a certified copy or copies of the resolution or resolutions in the office of the clerk of the county commission which entered the order creating the district, the persons so appointed become members of the board without any further act or proceedings. If the number of members of the board so appointed by the governing bodies of cities, incorporated towns, or other municipal corporations included in the district equals or exceeds three, then no further members shall be appointed to the board and the members so appointed are the board of the district except in cases of merger or consolidation where the number of board members may equal five.

If no city, incorporated town, or other municipal corporation having a population of more than 3,000 is included within the district, then the county commission which entered the order creating the district shall appoint three members of the board, who are persons residing within the district and residing within the state of West Virginia, which three members become members of the board of the district without any further act or proceedings except in cases of merger or consolidation where the number of board members may equal five.

If the number of members of the board appointed by the governing bodies of cities, incorporated towns, or other municipal corporations included within the district is less than three, then the county commission which entered the order creating the district shall appoint such additional member or members of the board, who are persons residing within the district, as is necessary to make the number of members of the board equal three except in cases of merger or consolidation where the number of board members may equal five, and the member or members appointed by the governing bodies of the cities, incorporated towns, or other municipal corporations included within the district and the additional member or members appointed by the county commission as aforesaid, are the board of the district. A person may serve as a member of the board in one or more public service districts.

The population of any city, incorporated town, or other municipal corporation, for the purpose of determining the number of members of the board, if any, to be appointed by the governing body or bodies thereof, is the population stated for such city, incorporated town or other municipal corporation in the last official federal census.

Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, whenever a district is consolidated or merged pursuant to §16-13A-2 of this code, the terms of office of the existing board members shall end on the effective date of the merger or consolidation. The county commission shall appoint a new board according to rules promulgated by the Public Service Commission. Whenever districts are consolidated or merged no provision of this code prohibits the expansion of membership on the new board to five.

The respective terms of office of the members of the first board shall be fixed by the county commission and shall be as equally divided as may be, that is approximately one third of the members for a term of two years, a like number for a term of four years, the term of the remaining member or members for six years, from the first day of the month during which the appointments are made. The first members of the board appointed as aforesaid shall meet at the office of the clerk of the county commission which entered the order creating the district as soon as practicable after the appointments and shall qualify by taking an oath of office: Provided, That any member or members of the board may be removed from their respective office as provided in §16-13A-3a of this code.

Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term within 30 days; otherwise successor members of the board shall be appointed for terms of six years and the terms of office shall continue until successors have been appointed and qualified. All successor members shall be appointed in the same manner as the member succeeded was appointed. The district shall provide to the Public Service Commission, within 30 days of the appointment, the following information: The new board member’s name, home address, home and office phone numbers, date of appointment, length of term, who the new member replaces, and if the new appointee has previously served on the board. The Public Service Commission shall notify each new board member of the legal obligation to attend training as prescribed in this section.

The board shall organize within 30 days following the first appointments and annually thereafter at its first meeting after January 1 of each year by selecting one of its members to serve as chair and by appointing a secretary and a treasurer who need not be members of the board. The secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of the board which shall be available for inspection as other public records. Duplicate records shall be filed with the county commission and shall include the minutes of all board meetings. The treasurer is lawful custodian of all funds of the public service district and shall pay same out on orders authorized or approved by the board. The secretary and treasurer shall perform other duties appertaining to the affairs of the district and shall receive salaries as shall be prescribed by the board. The treasurer shall furnish bond in an amount to be fixed by the board for the use and benefit of the district.

The members of the board, and the chair, secretary, and treasurer thereof, shall make available to the county commission, at all times, all of its books and records pertaining to the district's operation, finances, and affairs, for inspection and audit. The board shall meet at least monthly.

§16-13A-3a. Removal of members of public service board.

The county commission or the Public Service Commission or any other appointive body creating or establishing a public service district under the provisions of this article, or any group of five percent or more of the customers of a public service district, may petition the circuit court of the county in which the district maintains its principal office for the removal of any member of the governing board thereof for consistent violations of any provisions of this article, for reasonable cause which includes, but is not limited to, a continued failure to attend meetings of the board, failure to diligently pursue the objectives for which the district was created, or failure to perform any other duty either prescribed by law or required by a final order of the Public Service Commission or for any malfeasance in public office. Any board member charged with a violation under this section who offers a successful defense against such charges shall be reimbursed for the reasonable costs of such defense from district revenues. Such costs shall be considered as costs associated with rate determination by the public service district and the Public Service Commission. If the circuit court judge hearing the petition for removal finds that the charges are frivolous in nature, the judge may assess all or part of the court costs, plus the reasonable costs associated with the board member's defense, against the party or parties who petitioned the court for the board member's removal.

§16-13A-4. Board chairman; members' compensation; procedure; district name.

(a) The chairman shall preside at all meetings of the board and may vote as any other member of the board. If the chairman is absent from any meeting, the remaining members may select a temporary chairman and if the member selected as chairman resigns as such or ceases for any reason to be a member of the board, the board shall select one of its members as chairman to serve until the next annual organization meeting.

(b) Salaries of the board members are:

(1) For districts with fewer than six hundred customers, up to $100 per attendance at regular monthly meetings and $75 per attendance at additional special meetings, total salary not to exceed $2,000 per annum;

(2) For districts with six hundred customers or more but fewer than two thousand customers, up to $125 per attendance at regular monthly meetings and $100 per attendance at additional special meetings, total salary not to exceed $3,250 per annum;

(3) For districts with two thousand customers or more, but fewer than four thousand customers, up to $150 per attendance at regular monthly meetings and $100 per attendance at additional special meetings, total salary not to exceed $4,500 per annum; and

(4) For districts with four thousand or more customers, up to $200 per attendance at regular monthly meetings and $150 per attendance at additional special meetings, total salary not to exceed $6,400 per annum.

The public service district shall certify the number of customers served to the Public Service Commission on July 1 of each fiscal year.

(c) Public service districts selling water to other water utilities for resale or public service districts which provide sewer treatment for other sewer utilities may adopt the following salaries for its board members:

(1) For districts with annual revenues of less than $50,000, up to $100 per attendance at regular monthly meetings and $75 per attendance at additional special meetings, total salary not to exceed $2,000 per annum;

(2) For districts with annual revenues of $50,000 or more, but less than $250,000, up to $125 per attendance at regular monthly meetings and $100 per attendance at special meetings, total salary not to exceed $3,250 per annum;

(3) For districts with annual revenues of $250,000 or more, but less than $500,000, up to $150 per attendance at regular monthly meetings and $100 per attendance at additional special meetings, total salary not to exceed $4,500 per annum; and

(4) For districts with annual revenues of $500,000 or more, up to $200 per attendance at regular monthly meetings and $150 per attendance at additional special meetings, total salary not to exceed $6,400 per annum.

The public service district shall certify the number of customers served and its annual revenue to the Public Service Commission on July 1 of each fiscal year.

(d) Board members may be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties as provided by the rules of the board. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, board members are not eligible for salary payment or reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the public service district initiating service to its first customer. Salary and reimbursement for expenses may be incurred only at meetings occurring after the public service district initiated service to customers.

(e) The board shall by resolution determine its own rules of procedure, fix the time and place of its meetings and the manner in which special meetings may be called. Public notice of meetings shall be given in accordance with section three, article nine-a, chapter six of this code. Emergency meetings may be called as provided by that section. A majority of the members constituting the board also constitute a quorum to do business.

(f) The members of the board are not personally liable or responsible for any obligations of the district or the board, but are answerable only for willful misconduct in the performance of their duties. The county commission which created a district or county commissions if more than one created the district may, upon written request of the district, adopt an order changing the official name of a public service district: Provided, That the name change will not be effective until approved by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia and the owners of any bonds and notes issued by the district, if any, shall have consented, in writing, to the name change. If a district includes territory located in more than one county, the county commission or county commissions changing the name of the district shall provide any county commission into which the district also extends with a certified copy of the order changing the name of the district. The official name of any district created under the provisions of this article may contain the name or names of any city, incorporated town or other municipal corporation included therein or the name of any county or counties in which it is located.

§16-13A-5. General manager of board.

The board may employ a general manager to serve a term of not more than five years and until his or her successor is employed, and his or her compensation shall be fixed by resolution of the board. Such general manager shall devote all or the required portion of his or her time to the affairs of the district and may employ, discharge and fix the compensation of all employees of the district, except as in this article otherwise provided, and he or she shall perform and exercise such other powers and duties as may be conferred upon him or her by the board.

Such general manager shall be chosen without regard to his or her political affiliations and upon the sole basis of his or her administrative and technical qualifications to manage public service properties and affairs of the district and he or she may be discharged only upon the affirmative vote of two thirds of the board. Such general manager need not be a resident of the district at the time he or she is chosen. Such general manager may not be a member of the board but shall be an employee of the board.

The board of any public service district which purchases water, sewer or stormwater service from a municipal water, sewer or stormwater system or another public service district may, as an alternative to hiring its own general manager, elect to permit the general manager of the municipal water, sewer or stormwater system or public service district from which such water, sewer or stormwater service is purchased provide professional management to the district, if the appropriate municipality or public service board agrees to provide such assistance. The general manager shall receive reasonable compensation for such service.

§16-13A-6. Employees of board.

The board may in its discretion from time to time by resolution passed by a majority vote provide for the employment of an attorney, fiscal agent, one or more engineers and such other employees as the board may determine necessary and expedient. The board shall in and by such resolution fix the term of employment and compensation and prescribe the duties to be performed by such employees.

§16-13A-7. Acquisition and operation of district properties; bidding requirements; contracts to respond to emergency situations.

The board of these districts shall have the supervision and control of all public service properties acquired or constructed by the district, and shall have the power, and it shall be its duty, to maintain, operate, extend and improve the same, including, but not limited to, those activities necessary to comply with all federal and state requirements, including water quality improvement activities. All contracts involving the expenditure by the district of more than $50,000 for construction work or for the purchase of labor, materials equipment and improvements, extensions or replacements, shall be entered into only after notice inviting bids shall have been published as a Class I legal advertisement in compliance with the provision of article §59-3-1, et seq. of this code, and the publication area for such publication shall be as specified in §16-13A-2 of this code in the county or counties in which the district is located. The publication shall not be less than ten days prior to the making of any such contract. To the extent allowed by law, in-state contractors shall be given first priority in awarding public service district contracts. Each bid shall be publicly opened and an award made to the lowest responsible bidder, with power and authority in the board to reject any and all bids.

It shall be the duty of the board to ensure that local in-state labor shall be utilized to the greatest extent possible when hiring laborers for public service district construction or maintenance repair jobs. It shall further be the duty of the board to encourage contractors to use American made products in their construction to the extent possible. Any obligations incurred of any kind or character shall not in any event constitute or be deemed an indebtedness within the meaning of any of the provisions or limitations of the Constitution, but all such obligations shall be payable solely and only out of revenues derived from the operation of the public service properties of the district or from proceeds of bonds issued as hereinafter provided. No continuing contract for the purchase of materials or supplies or for furnishing the district with electrical energy or power shall be entered into for a longer period than fifteen years.

Emergency repairs shall be exempt from the bidding requirements of this section. For the purpose of this section, the term emergency repairs means repairs that if not made immediately will seriously impair the use of building components, systems, and public infrastructure or cause danger to persons using the building components, systems, and public infrastructure.

§16-13A-8. Acquisition and purchase of public service properties; right of eminent domain; extraterritorial powers.

The board may acquire any publicly or privately owned public service properties located within the boundaries of the district regardless of whether or not all or any part of such properties are located within the corporate limits of any city, incorporated town or other municipal corporation included within the district and may purchase and acquire all rights and franchises and any and all property within or outside the district necessary or incidental to the purpose of the district.

The board may construct any public service properties within or outside the district necessary or incidental to its purposes and each such district may acquire, construct, maintain and operate any such public service properties within the corporate limits of any city, incorporated town or other municipal corporation included within the district or in any unincorporated territory within ten miles of the territorial boundaries of the district: Provided, That if any incorporated city, town or other municipal corporation included within the district owns and operates either water facilities, sewer facilities, stormwater facilities or gas facilities or all of these, then the district may not acquire, construct, establish, improve or extend any public service properties of the same kind within such city, incorporated towns or other municipal corporations or the adjacent unincorporated territory served by such cities, incorporated towns or other municipal corporations, except upon, the consent of such cities, incorporated towns or other municipal corporations and in conformity and compliance with the rights of the holders of any revenue bonds or obligations theretofore issued by such cities, incorporated towns or other municipal corporations then outstanding and in accordance with the ordinance, resolution or other proceedings which authorize the issuance of such revenue bonds or obligations.

Whenever such district has constructed, acquired or established water facilities, sewer facilities, a stormwater system, stormwater management program or gas facilities for water, sewer, stormwater or gas services within any city, incorporated town or other municipal corporation included within a district, then such city, incorporated town or other municipal corporation may not thereafter construct, acquire or establish any facilities of the same kind within such city, incorporated town or other municipal corporation without the consent of such district.

For the purpose of acquiring any public service properties or lands, rights or easements deemed necessary or incidental for the purposes of the district, each such district has the right of eminent domain to the same extent and to be exercised in the same manner as now or hereafter provided by law for such right of eminent domain by cities, incorporated towns and other municipal corporations: Provided, That the power of eminent domain provided in this section does not extend to highways, road and drainage easements, or stormwater facilities constructed, owned or operated by the West Virginia division of highways without the express agreement of the commissioner of highways: Provided, however, That such board may not acquire all or any substantial part of a privately owned waterworks system unless and until authorized so to do by the public service commission of West Virginia, and that this section shall not be construed to authorize any district to acquire through condemnation proceedings either in whole or substantial part an existing privately owned waterworks plant or system or gas facilities located in or furnishing water or gas service within such district or extensions made or to be made by it in territory contiguous to such existing plant or system, nor may any such board construct or extend its public service properties to supply its services into areas served by or in competition with existing waterworks or gas facilities or extensions made or to be made in territory contiguous to such existing plant or system by the owner thereof.

§16-13A-9. Rules; service rates and charges; discontinuance of service; required water and sewer connections; lien for delinquent fees.

(a)(1) The board may make, enact, and enforce all needful rules in connection with the acquisition, construction, improvement, extension, management, maintenance, operation, care, protection, and the use of any public service properties owned or controlled by the district. The board shall establish, in accordance with this article, rates, fees, and charges for the services and facilities it furnishes, which shall be sufficient at all times, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or laws, to pay the cost of maintenance, operation, and depreciation of the public service properties and principal of and interest on all bonds issued, other obligations incurred under the provisions of this article, and all reserve or other payments provided for in the proceedings which authorized the issuance of any bonds under this article. The schedule of the rates, fees, and charges may be based upon:

(A) The consumption of water or gas on premises connected with the facilities, taking into consideration domestic, commercial, industrial, and public use of water and gas;

(B) The number and kind of fixtures connected with the facilities located on the various premises;

(C) The number of persons served by the facilities;

(D) Any combination of paragraphs (A), (B), and (C) of this subdivision; or

(E) Any other basis or classification which the board may determine to be fair and reasonable, taking into consideration the location of the premises served and the nature and extent of the services and facilities furnished. However, no rates, fees, or charges for stormwater services may be assessed against highways, road, and drainage easements or stormwater facilities constructed, owned, or operated by the West Virginia Division of Highways.

(2) The board of a public service district with at least 4,500 customers and annual combined gross revenue of $3 million providing water or sewer service separately or in combination may make, enact, and enforce all needful rules in connection with the enactment or amendment of rates, fees, and charges of the district. At a minimum, these rules shall provide for:

(A) Adequate prior public notice of the contemplated rates, fees, and charges by causing a notice of intent to effect such a change to be provided to the customers of the district for the month immediately preceding the month in which the contemplated change is to be considered at a hearing by the board. The notice shall include a statement that a change in rates, fees, and charges is being considered, the time, date, and location of the hearing of the board at which the change will be considered, and that the proposed rates, fees, and charges are on file at the office of the district for review during regular business hours. The notice shall be printed on, or mailed with, the monthly billing statement, or provided in a separate mailing.

(B) Adequate prior public notice of the contemplated rates, fees, and charges by causing to be published, after the first reading and approval of a resolution of the board considering the revised rates, fees, and charges but not less than one week prior to the public hearing of the board on the resolution, as a Class I legal advertisement, of the proposed action, in compliance with the provisions of §59-3-1 et seq. of this code. The publication area for publication shall be all territory served by the district. If the district provides service in more than one county, publication shall be made in a newspaper of general circulation in each county that the district provides service.

(C) The public notice of the proposed action shall summarize the current rates, fees, and charges and the proposed changes to said rates, fees, and charges; the date, time, and place of the public hearing on the resolution approving the revised rates, fees, and charges, and the place or places within the district where the proposed resolution approving the revised rates, fees, and charges may be inspected by the public. A reasonable number of copies of the proposed resolution shall be kept at the place or places and be made available for public inspection. The notice shall also advise that interested parties may appear at the public hearing before the board and be heard with respect to the proposed revised rates, fees, and charges.

(D) The resolution proposing the revised rates, fees, and charges shall be read at two meetings of the board with at least two weeks intervening between each meeting. The public hearing may be conducted by the board prior to, or at, the meeting at which the resolution is considered for adoption on the second reading.

(E) Rates, fees, and charges approved by resolution of the board shall be forwarded in writing to the county commission with the authority to appoint the members of the board. The county commission shall publish notice of the proposed revised rates, fees, and charges by a Class I legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of §59-3-1 et seq. of this code. Within 45 days of receipt of the proposed rates, fees, and charges, the county commission shall take action to approve, modify, or reject the proposed rates, fees, and charges, in its sole discretion. If, after 45 days, the county commission has not taken final action to approve, modify, or reject the proposed rates, fees, and charges, as presented to the county commission, the proposed rates, fees, and charges shall be effective with no further action by the board or county commission. In any event, this 45-day period shall be mandatory unless extended by the official action of both the board proposing the rates, fees, and charges, and the appointing county commission.

(F) Enactment of the proposed or modified rates, fees, and charges shall follow an affirmative vote by the county commission and shall be effective no sooner than 45 days following action. The 45-day waiting period may be waived by public vote of the county commission only if the commission finds and declares the district to be in financial distress such that the 45-day waiting period would be detrimental to the ability of the district to deliver continued and compliant public services.

(G) The public service district, or a customer aggrieved by the changed rates or charges who presents to the circuit court a petition signed by at least 750 customers or 25 percent of the customers served by the public service district, whichever is fewer, when dissatisfied by the approval, modification, or rejection by the county commission of the proposed rates, fees, and charges under the provisions of this subdivision may file a complaint regarding the rates, fees, and charges resulting from the action of, or failure to act by, the county commission in the circuit court of the county in which the county commission sits: Provided, That any complaint or petition filed hereunder shall be filed within 30 days of the county commission’s final action approving, modifying, or rejecting the rates, fees, and charges, or the expiration of the 45-day period from the receipt by the county commission, in writing, of the rates, fees, and charges approved by resolution of the board, without final action by the county commission to approve, modify, or reject the rates, fees, and charges, and the circuit court shall resolve the complaint: Provided, however, That the rates, fees, and charges so fixed by the county commission, or those adopted by the district upon which the county commission failed to act, shall remain in full force and effect, until set aside, altered, or amended by the circuit court in an order to be followed in the future.

(3) Where water, sewer, stormwater, or gas services, or any combination thereof, are all furnished to any premises, the schedule of charges may be billed as a single amount for the aggregate of the charges. The board shall require all users of services and facilities furnished by the district to designate on every application for service whether the applicant is a tenant or an owner of the premises to be served. If the applicant is a tenant, he or she shall state the name and address of the owner or owners of the premises to be served by the district. Notwithstanding the provisions of §24-3-8 of this code to the contrary, all new applicants for service shall deposit the greater of a sum equal to two twelfths of the average annual usage of the applicant’s specific customer class or $50 with the district to secure the payment of service rates, fees, and charges in the event they become delinquent as provided in this section. If a district provides both water and sewer service, all new applicants for service shall deposit the greater of a sum equal to two twelfths of the average annual usage for water service or $50 and the greater of a sum equal to two twelfths of the average annual usage for wastewater service of the applicant’s specific customer class or $50. In any case where a deposit is forfeited to pay service rates, fees, and charges which were delinquent at the time of disconnection or termination of service, no reconnection or reinstatement of service may be made by the district until another deposit equal to the greater of a sum equal to two twelfths of the average usage for the applicant’s specific customer class or $50 has been remitted to the district. After 12 months of prompt payment history, the district shall return the deposit to the customer or credit the customer’s account at a rate as the Public Service Commission may prescribe: Provided, That where the customer is a tenant, the district is not required to return the deposit until the time the tenant discontinues service with the district. Whenever any rates, fees, rentals, or charges for services or facilities furnished remain unpaid for a period of 20 days after the same become due and payable, the user of the services and facilities provided is delinquent and the user is liable at law until all rates, fees, and charges are fully paid. The board may, under reasonable rules promulgated by the Public Service Commission, shut off and discontinue water or gas services to all delinquent users of either water or gas facilities, or both, 10 days after the water or gas services become delinquent: Provided, however, That nothing contained within the rules of the Public Service Commission may be considered to require any agents or employees of the board to accept payment at the customer’s premises in lieu of discontinuing service for a delinquent bill: Provided further, That the water service for a user may not be shut off or discontinued for the nonpayment of a stormwater fee except as provided in subsections (i) and (j) of this section.

(b) If any publicly or privately owned utility, city, incorporated town, other municipal corporation or other public service district included within the district owns and operates separate water facilities, sewer facilities, or stormwater facilities, and the district owns and operates another kind of facility, either water or sewer, or both, as the case may be, then the district and the publicly or privately owned utility, city, incorporated town or other municipal corporation, or other public service district shall covenant and contract with each other to shut off and discontinue the supplying of water service for the nonpayment of sewer service fees and charges: Provided, That any contracts entered into by a public service district pursuant to this section shall be submitted to the Public Service Commission for approval. Any public service district which provides water and sewer service, water and stormwater service or water, sewer, and stormwater service has the right to terminate water service for delinquency in payment of water or sewer bills. Where one public service district is providing sewer service and another public service district or a municipality included within the boundaries of the sewer or stormwater district is providing water service and the district providing sewer or stormwater service experiences a delinquency in payment, the district or the municipality included within the boundaries of the sewer or stormwater district that is providing water service, upon the request of the district providing sewer or stormwater service to the delinquent account, shall terminate its water service to the customer having the delinquent sewer account: Provided, however, That any termination of water service must comply with all rules and orders of the Public Service Commission: Provided further, That nothing contained within the rules of the Public Service Commission shall be deemed to require any agents or employees of the public service districts to accept payment at the customer’s premises in lieu of discontinuing service for a delinquent bill: And provided further, That the water service for a user may not be shut off or discontinued for the nonpayment of a stormwater fee except as provided in subsections (i) and (j) of this section.

(c) Any district furnishing sewer facilities within the district may require or may, by petition to the circuit court of the county in which the property is located, compel or may require the Bureau for Public Health to compel all owners, tenants, or occupants of any houses, dwellings, and buildings located near any sewer facilities where sewage will flow by gravity or be transported by other methods approved by the Bureau for Public Health, including, but not limited to, vacuum and pressure systems, approved under the provisions of §16-1-9 of this code, from the houses, dwellings, or buildings into the sewer facilities, to connect with and use the sewer facilities and to cease the use of all other means for the collection, treatment, and disposal of sewage and waste matters from the houses, dwellings, and buildings where there is gravity flow or transportation by any other methods approved by the Bureau for Public Health, including, but not limited to, vacuum and pressure systems, approved under the provisions of §16-1-9 of this code and the houses, dwellings, and buildings can be adequately served by the sewer facilities of the district and it is declared that the mandatory use of the sewer facilities provided for in this subsection is necessary and essential for the health and welfare of the inhabitants and residents of the districts and of the state. If the public service district requires the property owner to connect with the sewer facilities even when sewage from dwellings may not flow to the main line by gravity and the property owner incurs costs for any changes in the existing dwellings’ exterior plumbing in order to connect to the main sewer line, the public service district board shall authorize the district to pay all reasonable costs for the changes in the exterior plumbing, including, but not limited to, installation, operation, maintenance, and purchase of a pump or any other method approved by the Bureau for Public Health. Maintenance and operation costs for the extra installation should be reflected in the users charge for approval of the Public Service Commission. The circuit court shall adjudicate the merits of the petition by summary hearing to be held not later than 30 days after service of petition to the appropriate owners, tenants, or occupants.

(d) Whenever any district has made available sewer facilities to any owner, tenant, or occupant of any house, dwelling, or building located near the sewer facility and the engineer for the district has certified that the sewer facilities are available to and are adequate to serve the owner, tenant, or occupant and sewage will flow by gravity or be transported by other methods approved by the Bureau for Public Health from the house, dwelling, or building into the sewer facilities, the district may charge, and the owner, tenant, or occupant shall pay, the rates and charges for services established under this article only after 30 days’ notice of the availability of the facilities has been received by the owner, tenant, or occupant. Rates and charges for sewage services shall be based upon actual water consumption or the average monthly water consumption based upon the owner’s, tenant’s, or occupant’s specific customer class.

(e) The owner, tenant, or occupant of any real property may be determined and declared to be served by a stormwater system only after each of the following conditions is met: (1) The district has been designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as an entity to serve a West Virginia Separate Storm Sewer System community, as defined in 40 C. F. R. § 122.26; (2) the district’s authority has been properly expanded to operate and maintain a stormwater system; (3) the district has made available a stormwater system where stormwater from the real property affects or drains into the stormwater system; and (4) the real property is located in the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System’s designated service area. It is further hereby found, determined, and declared that the mandatory use of the stormwater system is necessary and essential for the health and welfare of the inhabitants and residents of the district and of the state. The district may charge and the owner, tenant, or occupant shall pay the rates, fees, and charges for stormwater services established under this article only after 30 days’ notice of the availability of the stormwater system has been received by the owner. An entity providing stormwater service shall provide a tenant a report of the stormwater fee charged for the entire property and, if appropriate, that portion of the fee to be assessed to the tenant.

(f) All delinquent fees, rates, and charges of the district for either water facilities, sewer facilities, gas facilities, or stormwater systems or stormwater management programs are liens on the premises served of equal dignity, rank, and priority with the lien on the premises of state, county, school, and municipal taxes. Nothing contained within the rules of the Public Service Commission may require agents or employees of the public service districts to accept payment at the customer’s premises in lieu of discontinuing service for a delinquent bill. In addition to the other remedies provided in this section, public service districts are granted a deferral of filing fees or other fees and costs incidental to the bringing and maintenance of an action in magistrate court for the collection of delinquent water, sewer, stormwater, or gas bills. If the district collects the delinquent account, plus reasonable costs, from its customer or other responsible party, the district shall pay to the magistrate the normal filing fee and reasonable costs which were previously deferred. In addition, each public service district may exchange with other public service districts a list of delinquent accounts: Provided, That an owner of real property may not be held liable for the delinquent rates or charges for services or facilities of a tenant, nor may any lien attach to real property for the reason of delinquent rates or charges for services or facilities of a tenant of the real property unless the owner has contracted directly with the public service district to purchase the services or facilities.

(g) Anything in this section to the contrary notwithstanding, any establishment, as defined in §22-11-3 of this code, now or hereafter operating its own sewage disposal system pursuant to a permit issued by the Department of Environmental Protection, as prescribed by §22-11-11 of this code, is exempt from the provisions of this section.

(h) Notwithstanding any code provision to the contrary, a public service district may accept payment for all fees and charges due, in the form of a payment by a credit or check card transaction or a direct withdrawal from a bank account. The public service district may set a fee to be added to each transaction equal to the charge paid by the public service district for use of the credit or check card or direct withdrawal by the payor. The amount of the fee shall be disclosed to the payor prior to the transaction and no other fees for the use of a credit or check card or direct withdrawal may be imposed upon the payor and the whole of the charge or convenience fee shall be borne by the payor: Provided, That to the extent a public service district desires to accept payments in the forms described in this subsection and does not have access to the equipment or receive the services necessary to do so, the public service district shall first obtain three bids for services and equipment necessary to effect the forms of transactions described in this subsection and use the lowest qualified bid received. Acceptance of a credit or check card or direct withdrawal as a form of payment shall comport with the rules and requirements set forth by the credit or check card provider or banking institution.

(i) The board collecting the rates, fees, or charges may shut off and discontinue water services to users with delinquent stormwater fees, provided that:

(1) The water service and stormwater fee are in the name of the same user;

(2) The rates, fees, or charges incurred by the user are at least 90 days past due;

(3) The provider has given the user written notice of termination of water service for nonpayment. Such notice must be given to the user at least 10 days before the termination of service and must notify the user of the user’s right to enter into a deferred payment plan;

(4) The provider has attempted to make personal contact with the user at least twice in the 24 hours immediately before the termination of the service. If the provider makes personal contact with the user, the provider must inform the user of the user’s right to enter into a deferred payment plan.

(5) The water service for a user who has entered into a deferred payment plan under this subsection may not be shut off or discontinued as long as the user is in conformance with the agreed-to payment plan. In the event the user falls out of compliance with the deferred payment plan, no sooner than five days after the missed payment, the provider may terminate service: Provided, That the provider must make one attempt to make personal contact with the user in the 24 hours immediately before the termination of the service.

(j) All rates, fees, or charges, if not paid when due, shall constitute a lien upon the premises served by the works. If any service rate, fee, or charge is not paid within 20 days after it is due, the amount thereof, together with a penalty of 10 percent and a reasonable attorney's fee, may be recovered by the board in a civil action in the name of the public service district. The lien may be foreclosed against the lot, parcel of land, or building in accordance with the laws relating thereto. Where water, stormwater, and sewer services are furnished by any public service district to any premises, the schedule of charges may be billed as a single amount or individually itemized and billed for the aggregate thereof.

§16-13A-9a. Limitations with respect to foreclosure.

No public service district shall foreclose upon the premises served by such district for delinquent fees, rates or charges for which a lien is authorized by sections nine or nineteen of this article except through the bringing and maintenance of a civil action for such purpose brought in the circuit court of the county wherein the district lies. In every such action, the court shall be required to make a finding based upon the evidence and facts presented that the district prior to the bringing of such action had exhausted all other remedies for the collection of debts with respect to such delinquencies. In no event shall foreclosure procedures be instituted by any such district or on its behalf unless such delinquency had been in existence or continued for a period of two years from the date of the first such delinquency for which foreclosure is being sought.

§16-13A-10. Budget.

The board shall establish the beginning and ending of its fiscal year, which period shall constitute its budget year, and at least thirty days prior to the beginning of the first full fiscal year after the creation of the district and annually thereafter the general manager shall prepare and submit to the board a tentative budget which shall include all operation and maintenance expenses, payments to a capital replacement account and bond payment schedules for the ensuing fiscal year. Such tentative budget shall be considered by the board, and, subject to any revisions or amendments that may be determined by the board, shall be adopted as the budget for the ensuing fiscal year. Upon adoption of the budget, a copy of the budget shall be forwarded to the county commission. No expenditures for operation and maintenance expenses in excess of the budget shall be made during such fiscal year unless unanimously authorized and directed by the board.

§16-13A-11. Accounts; audit.

The general manager, under direction of the board, shall install and maintain a proper system of accounts, in accordance with all rules, regulations or orders pertaining thereto by the Public Service Commission, showing receipts from operation and application of the same, and the board shall at least once a year cause such accounts to be properly audited: Provided, That such audit may be any audit by an independent public accountant completed within one year of the time required for the submission of the report: Provided, however, That if the district is required to have its books, records and accounts audited annually by an independent certified public accountant as a result of any covenant in any board resolution or bond instrument, a copy of such audit may be submitted in satisfaction of the requirements of this section, and is hereby found, declared and determined to be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of article nine, chapter six of this code pertaining to the annual audit report by the state tax commission. A copy of the audit shall be forwarded within thirty days of submission to the county commission and to the Public Service Commission.

The treasurer of each public service district shall keep and preserve all financial records of the public service district for ten years, and shall at all times have such records readily available for public inspection. At the end of his term of office, the treasurer of each public service district shall promptly deliver all financial records of the public service district to his successor in office. Any treasurer of a public service district who knowingly or willfully violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisoned in the county jail not more than ten days, or both.

§16-13A-12. Disbursement of district funds.

No money may be paid out by a district except upon an order signed by the chairman and secretary of such board, or such other person or persons authorized by the chairman or secretary, as the case may be, to sign such orders on their behalf. Each order for the payment of money shall specify the purposes for which the amount thereof is to be paid, with sufficient clearness to indicate the purpose for which the order is issued, and there shall be endorsed thereon the name of the particular fund out of which it is payable and it shall be payable from the fund constituted for such purpose, and no other. All such orders shall be reflected in the minutes of the next meeting of the board.

§16-13A-13. Revenue bonds.

For constructing or acquiring any public service properties for the authorized purposes of the district, or necessary or incidental thereto, and for constructing improvements and extensions thereto, and also for reimbursing or paying the costs and expenses of creating the district, the board of any such district is hereby authorized to borrow money from time to time and in evidence thereof issue the bonds of such district, payable solely from the revenues derived from the operation of the public service properties under control of the district. Such bonds may be issued in one or more series, may bear such date or dates, may mature at such time or times not exceeding forty years from their respective dates, may bear interest at such rate or rates not exceeding eighteen percent per annum payable at such times, may be in such form, may carry such registration privileges, may be executed in such manner, may be payable at such place or places, may be subject to such terms of redemption with or without premium, may be declared or become due before maturity date thereof, may be authenticated in any manner, and upon compliance with such conditions, and may contain such terms and covenants as may be provided by resolution or resolutions of the board. Notwithstanding the form or tenor thereof, and in the absence of any express recital on the face thereof, that the bond is nonnegotiable, all such bonds shall be, and shall be treated as, negotiable instruments for all purposes. Bonds bearing the signatures of officers in office on the date of the signing thereof shall be valid and binding for all purposes notwithstanding that before the delivery thereof any or all of the persons whose signatures appear thereon shall have ceased to be such officers. Notwithstanding the requirements or provisions of any other law, any such bonds may be negotiated or sold in such manner and at such time or times as is found by the board to be most advantageous, and all such bonds may be sold at such price that the interest cost of the proceeds therefrom does not exceed nineteen percent per annum, based on the average maturity of such bonds and computed according to standard tables of bond values. Any resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such bonds may contain such covenants and restrictions upon the issuance of additional bonds thereafter as may be deemed necessary or advisable for the assurance of the payment of the bonds thereby authorized.

§16-13A-14. Items included in cost of properties.

The cost of any public service properties acquired under the provisions of this article shall be deemed to include the cost of the acquisition or construction thereof, the cost of all property rights, easements and franchises deemed necessary or convenient therefor and for the improvements and extensions thereto; for stormwater systems and associated stormwater management programs, those activities which include, but are not limited to, water quality improvement activities necessary to comply with all federal and state requirements; interest upon bonds prior to and during construction or acquisition and for six months after completion of construction or of acquisition of the improvements and extensions; engineering, fiscal agents and legal expenses; expenses for estimates of cost and of revenues, expenses for plans, specifications and surveys; other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of the enterprise, administrative expense, and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing herein authorized, and the construction or acquisition of the properties and the placing of same in operation, and the performance of the things herein required or permitted, in connection with any thereof.

§16-13A-15. Bonds may be secured by trust indenture.

In the discretion and at the option of the board such bonds may be secured by a trust indenture by and between the district and a corporate trustee, which may be a trust company or bank having powers of a trust company within or without the State of West Virginia, but no such trust indenture shall convey, mortgage or create any lien upon the public service properties or any part thereof. The resolution authorizing the bonds and fixing the details thereof may provide that such trust indenture may contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of bondholders as may be reasonable and proper, not in violation of law, including covenants setting forth the duties of the district and the members of its board and officers in relation to the construction or acquisition of public service properties and the improvement, extension, operation, repair, maintenance and insurance thereof, and the custody, safeguarding and application of all moneys, and may provide that all or any part of the construction work shall be contracted for, constructed and paid for, under the supervision and approval of consulting engineers employed or designated by the board and satisfactory to the original bond purchasers, their successors, assignees or nominees, who may be given the right to require the security given by contractors and by any depository of the proceeds of bonds or revenues of the public service properties or other money pertaining thereto be satisfactory to such purchasers, their successors, assignees or nominees. Such indenture may set forth the rights and remedies of the bondholders and such trustee.

§16-13A-16. Sinking fund for revenue bonds.

At or before the time of the issuance of any bonds under this article the board shall by resolution or in the trust indenture provide for the creation of a sinking fund and for monthly payments into such fund from the revenues of the public service properties operated by the district such sums in excess of the cost of maintenance and operation of such properties as will be sufficient to pay the accruing interest and retire the bonds at or before the time each will respectively become due and to establish and maintain reserves therefor. All sums which are or should be, in accordance with such provisions, paid into such sinking fund shall be used solely for payment of interest and for the retirement of such bonds at or prior to maturity as may be provided or required by such resolutions.

§16-13A-17. Collection, etc., of revenues and enforcement of covenants; default; suit, etc., by bondholder or trustee to compel performance of duties; appointment and powers of receiver.

The board of any such district shall have power to insert enforceable provisions in any resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds relating to the collection, custody and application of revenues of the district from the operation of the public service properties under its control and to the enforcement of the covenants and undertakings of the district. In the event there shall be default in the sinking fund provisions aforesaid or in the payment of the principal or interest on any of such bonds or, in the event the district or its board or any of its officers, agents or employees, shall fail or refuse to comply with the provisions of this article, or shall default in any covenant or agreement made with respect to the issuance of such bonds or offered as security therefor, then any holder or holders of such bonds and any such trustee under the trust indenture, if there be one, shall have the right by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding instituted in the circuit court for the county or any of the counties wherein the district extends, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, to enforce and compel performance of all duties required by this article or undertaken by the district in connection with the issuance of such bonds, and upon application of any such holder or holders, or such trustee, such court shall, upon proof of such defaults, appoint a receiver for the affairs of the district and its properties, which receive so appointed shall forthwith directly, or by his agents and attorneys, enter into and upon and take possession of the affairs of the district and each and every part thereof, and hold, use, operate, manage and control the same, and in the name of the district exercise all of the rights and powers of such district as shall be deemed expedient, and such receiver shall have power and authority to collect and receive all revenues and apply same in such manner as the court shall direct. Whenever the default causing the appointment of such receiver shall have been cleared and fully discharged and all other defaults shall have been cured, the court may in its discretion and after such notice and hearing as it deems reasonable and proper direct the receiver to surrender possession of the affairs of the district to its board. Such receiver so appointed shall have no power to sell, assign, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of any assets of the district except as hereinbefore provided.

§16-13A-18. Operating contracts.

The board may enter into contracts or agreements with any persons, firms or corporations for the operation and management of the public service properties within the district, or any part thereof, for such period of time and under such terms and conditions as shall be agreed upon between the board and such persons, firms or corporations. The board shall have power to provide in the resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds, or in any trust indenture securing such bonds, that such contracts or agreements shall be valid and binding upon the district as long as any of said bonds, or interest thereon, are outstanding and unpaid.

§16-13A-18a. . Sale, lease or rental of water, sewer, stormwater or gas system by district; distribution of proceeds.

In any case where a public service district owns a water, sewer, stormwater or gas system, and a majority of not less than sixty percent of the members of the public service board thereof deem it for the best interests of the district to sell, lease or rent such water, sewer, stormwater or gas system to any municipality or privately-owned water, sewer, stormwater or gas system, or to any water, sewer, stormwater or gas system owned by an adjacent public service district, the board may so sell, lease or rent such water, sewer, stormwater or gas system upon such terms and conditions as said board, in its discretion, considers in the best interests of the district: Provided, That such sale, leasing or rental may be made only upon: (1) The publication of notice of a hearing before the board of the public service district, as a Class I legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, in a newspaper published and of general circulation in the county or counties wherein the district is located, such publication to be made not earlier than twenty days and not later than seven days prior to the hearing; (2) approval by the county commission or commissions of the county or counties in which the district operates; and (3) approval by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.

In the event of any such sale, the proceeds thereof, if any, remaining after payment of all outstanding bonds and other obligations of the district, shall be ratably distributed to any persons who have made contributions in aid of construction of such water, sewer, stormwater or gas system, such distribution not to exceed the actual amount of any such contribution, without interest, and any balance of funds thereafter remaining shall be paid to the county commission of the county in which the major portion of such water, sewer, stormwater or gas system is located to be placed in the general funds of such county commission: Provided, That no such distribution shall be required in the case of a sale between political subdivisions of the state.

§16-13A-19. Statutory mortgage lien created; foreclosure thereof.

There shall be and is hereby created a statutory mortgage lien upon such public service properties of the district, which shall exist in favor of the holders of bonds hereby authorized to be issued, and each of them, and the coupons attached to said bonds, and such public service properties shall remain subject to such statutory mortgage lien until payment in full of all principal of and interest on such bonds. Any holder of such bonds, of any coupons attached thereto, may, either at law or in equity, enforce said statutory mortgage lien conferred hereby and upon default in the payment of the principal of or interest on said bonds, may foreclose such statutory mortgage lien in the manner now provided by the laws of the State of West Virginia for the foreclosure of mortgages on real property.

§16-13A-20. Refunding revenue bonds.

The board of any district having issued bonds under the provisions of this article is hereby empowered thereafter by resolution to issue refunding bonds of such district for the purpose of retiring or refinancing such outstanding bonds, together with any unpaid interest thereon and redemption premium thereunto appertaining and all of the provisions of this article relating to the issuance, security and payment of bonds shall be applicable to such refunding bonds, subject, however, to the provisions of the proceedings which authorized the issuance of the bonds to be so refunded.

§16-13A-21. Complete authority of article; liberal construction; district to be public instrumentality; tax exemption.

This article is full and complete authority for the creation of public service districts and for carrying out the powers and duties of same as herein provided. The provisions of this article shall be liberally construed to accomplish its purpose and no procedure or proceedings, notices, consents or approvals, are required in connection therewith except as may be prescribed by this article: Provided, That all functions, powers and duties of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, the bureau of public health, the Division of Environmental Protection and the environmental quality board remain unaffected by this article. Every district organized, consolidated, merged or expanded under this article is a public instrumentality created and functioning in the interest and for the benefit of the public, and its property and income and any bonds issued by it are exempt from taxation by the State of West Virginia, and the other taxing bodies of the state: Provided, however, That the board of any such district may use and apply any of its available revenues and income for the payment of what such board determines to be tax or license fee equivalents to any local taxing body and in any proceedings for the issuance of bonds of such district may reserve the right to annually pay a fixed or computable sum to such taxing bodies as such tax or license fee equivalent.

§16-13A-22. Validation of prior acts and proceedings of county courts for creation of districts, inclusion of additional territory, and appointment of members of district boards.

All acts and proceedings taken by any county court of this state purporting to have been carried out under the provisions of this article which have been taken, prior to the date this section takes effect, for the purpose of creating public service districts or for the purpose of subsequent inclusion of additional territory to existing public service districts, after notice published by any such county court having territorial jurisdiction thereof of its intention to include such additional territory after hearing thereon, are hereby validated, ratified, approved and confirmed notwithstanding any other lack of power (other than Constitutional) of any such county court to create such public service districts or to include additional territory to existing public service districts or irregularities (other than Constitutional) in such proceedings, relating to the appointment and qualification of more than three members to the board of any such public service district or the subsequent appointment of successors of any or all of such members, notwithstanding that no city, incorporated town or other municipal corporation having a population in excess of three thousand is included within the district, and the appointment and qualification of such members, and further including any irregularities in the petition for the creation of any public service district, irregularities in the description of the area embraced by such district, and irregularities in the notice and publication of notice for the hearing creating such district, prior to the date this section takes effect, is hereby validated, ratified, approved and confirmed; and, further, in such cases where more than three members of the board of such districts have been so appointed prior to the date this section takes effect then such county court shall appoint, and they are hereby authorized and empowered to appoint, successors to such members in the manner as otherwise provided by this article.

§16-13A-23. Validation of acts and proceedings of public service boards.

All acts and proceedings taken by any public service board the members of which were appointed, prior to the date this section takes effect, by any county court of this state having territorial jurisdiction thereof, are hereby validated, ratified, approved and confirmed, as to defects and irregularities which may otherwise exist on account of their appointment and qualification: Provided, however, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to excuse a criminal act.

§16-13A-24. Acceptance of loans, grants or temporary advances.

Any public service district created pursuant to the provisions of this article is authorized and empowered to accept loans or grants and procure loans or temporary advances evidenced by notes or other negotiable instruments issued in the manner, and subject to the privileges and limitations, set forth with respect to bonds authorized to be issued under the provisions of this article, for the purpose of paying part or all of the cost of construction or acquisition of water systems, sewage systems, stormwater systems or stormwater management systems or gas facilities, or all of these, and the other purposes herein authorized, from any authorized agency or from the United States of America or any federal or public agency or department of the United States or any private agency, corporation or individual, which loans or temporary advances, including the interest thereon, may be repaid out of the proceeds of the bonds authorized to be issued under the provisions of this article, the revenues of the said water system, sewage system, stormwater system or associated stormwater management system or gas facilities, or grants to the public service district from any authorized agency or from the United States of America or any federal or public agency or department of the United States or from any private agency, corporation or individual or from any combination of such sources of payment, and to enter into the necessary contracts and agreements to carry out the purposes hereof with any authorized agency or the United States of America or any federal or public agency or department of the United States, or with any private agency, corporation or individual. Any other provisions of this article to the contrary notwithstanding, interest on any such loans or temporary advances may be paid from the proceeds thereof until the maturity of such notes or other negotiable instrument.

§16-13A-25. Borrowing and bond issuance; procedure.

A public service district has plenary power to borrow money, enter into contracts for the provision of engineering, design or feasibility studies, issue or contract to issue revenue bonds or exercise any of the powers conferred by the provisions of section thirteen, twenty or twenty-four of this article. Upon written request of the public service board contemplating such transaction or project, the Public Service Commission shall provide technical support to the public service board, including, but not limited to, engineering, design and financial analysis of the proposed transaction or project.

§16-13A-9b. Exemptions for Swimming Pools.

(a) A public service district shall provide the owner of a privately-owned swimming pool with an exemption from sewer charges for the water required to fill the swimming pool, if the water is not discharged into the sewer system.

(b) In order for the owner of a privately-owned swimming pool to qualify for the exemption, the owner shall provide the dimensions of the swimming pool that is being filled to the public service district within 30 days of filling the swimming pool.

(c) The public service district shall calculate the volume of the swimming pool and allow the owner of the privately-owned swimming pool to use the amount of water necessary to fill the pool without charging the owner for the corresponding sewer charges that would normally be associated for that amount of use.

(d) The public service district may inspect the swimming pool of the owner of a privately-owned swimming pool applying for the exemption to verify the dimensions of the swimming pool submitted by the owner.