West Virginia
West Virginia Public Service Commission recommends ‘further investigation’ of Parkersburg trash service
(Photo illustration – MetroCreativeConnection)
PARKERSBURG — The staff of the West Virginia Public Service Commission recommended “further investigation” of Parkersburg’s plan to contract out its sanitation service, but the city attorney says that won’t delay implementation of an agreement with Waste Management.
“The city has clear legal authority to enter into contracts to provide essential services such as solid waste disposal,” City Attorney Blaine Myers said Thursday.
In a memo posted Wednesday to the PSC’s website, staff attorneys say services related to the collection and disposal of garbage are under the agency’s jurisdiction and state code “requires the Commission’s consent and approval prior to entering into contracts.” They note vehicles owned and operated by a municipality are exempt from regulation but that only applies if the municipality’s vehicles are used to provide the service.
Parkersburg City Council approved an ordinance authorizing a five-year contract with Waste Management to provide trash collection services on a pair of 6-3 votes this month. Property owner Carole Hanlon in December asked the PSC and other state agencies to review the city’s actions and hold public hearings on the matter.
“Staff recommends further investigation to determine compliance with applicable statutes and Commission regulations,” the memo says.
It mentions Hanlon’s request for a hearing but does not mention whether one will be held or a timeline for the investigation.
Myers said Thursday the city is doing something many other municipalities in West Virginia have done.
“The implementation of the contract with Waste Management will not be impaired or delayed by any review by the Public Service Commission,” he said.
The memo also says any intrastate carrier contracting with the city must submit its contract to the commission for approval. Interstate carriers need to register as “a Harper carrier,” which is a federal designation, as the PSC does not regulate interstate commerce.
Council has held two special meetings this month regarding proposals to contract out both solid waste and recycling services. Most speakers at the Jan. 6 public hearing opposed the Waste Management contract. Council approved the first reading of that ordinance in a second meeting that night but tabled a proposed contract for subscription-based recycling service with Rumpke.
On Tuesday, council held a special meeting focused on recycling, during which council President Andrew Borkowski announced a proposal to reduce the monthly charge for those who wanted to participate in curbside recycling from $15.35 to $3.50, while adding a $1.50 recycling surcharge to all residents’ sanitation fees. Many speakers argued the cost should be borne by all residents as recycling is a beneficial public service.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Parkersburg resident Trish Pritchard asked about the status of Hanlon’s petition to the PSC. At that point, before the release of the memo, Myers said he was not aware of any action the agency had taken beyond assigning a case number.
The PSC site lists more than 50 letters or messages submitted in relation to the case, with only one saying it was in favor of the new service. Among those submitting messages online was Councilman Chris Rexroad, who voted against the Waste Management contract ordinance.
“An overwhelming majority of the residents of Parkersburg do not support the privatization of the city sanitation services,” his message said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com
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Filings in the Public Service Commission case regarding Parkersburg sanitation can be viewed online at https://tinyurl.com/harpe885. The case number is 25-0999-MC-P.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history, compiled by the West Virginia Humanities Council from its online encyclopedia, e-WV.
April 19, 1896: Writer Melville Davisson Post was born in Harrison County. His best-known works are the Randolph Mason series, published in three volumes, and the more successful collection Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries.
April 19, 1902: Author Jean Lee Latham was born in Buckhannon. She wrote a number of children’s books, including Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, which won the 1956 Newbery Award.
April 20, 1823: Gen. Jesse Lee Reno was born in Wheeling. He graduated from West Point in 1846 with another cadet from western Virginia, Thomas J. Jackson, later known as “Stonewall.” Reno was the highest-ranking officer from present West Virginia killed in the Civil War.
April 20, 1863: President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that in 60 days, West Virginia would become a state. The occasion was marked 100 years later during the state’s Centennial celebration with a special ceremonial session of the West Virginia Legislature on April 20, 1963, in Wheeling.
April 20, 1909: Fiddler Melvin Wine was born near Burnsville in Braxton County. A favorite of old-time music enthusiasts nationally, he was chosen as a National Heritage Fellow in 1991 by the National Endowment for the Arts — the highest recognition given to a folk artist in the United States.
April 20, 1939: Poet Irene McKinney was born in Belington, Barbour County. Gov. Gaston Caperton appointed her state poet laureate in 1993, and she served in that capacity until her death in 2012.
April 21, 1908: Musician Phoeba Cottrell Parsons was born in Calhoun County. Parsons’ traditional clawhammer banjo style, unaccompanied ballad singing, riddles and storytelling have influenced countless younger musicians.
April 21, 1936: President Franklin Roosevelt established the Jefferson National Forest. The West Virginia portion of the forest includes about 19,000 acres in Monroe County.
April 22, 1908: Marshall “Little Sleepy” Glenn was born in Elkins. Glenn coached basketball at West Virginia University from 1934 to 1938 and football from 1937 to 1940. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
April 22, 1948: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and musician Larry Groce was born in Dallas, Texas. He is best known as the longtime host and artistic director of the Mountain Stage radio program.
April 22, 2003: Activist Judy Bonds, a Raleigh County native, received the Goldman Environmental Prize for her fight against mountaintop removal mining. Her efforts inspired thousands and turned a local West Virginia issue into a national cause.
April 23, 1857: Andrew S. Rowan was born in Gap Mills, Monroe County. Rowan, a military officer, was chosen as the messenger when President William McKinley wanted to send a message to Cuban Gen. Calixto Garcia during the Spanish-American War. The 1899 pamphlet A Message to Garcia made the incident famous.
April 24, 1865: McNeill’s Rangers surrendered to Union troops at New Creek — now Keyser. The Confederate guerrilla force probably never numbered more than 100 men at any time but managed to inflict regular damage on Union operations.
April 25, 1863: In what became known as the Jones-Imboden Raid, about 1,500 Confederate soldiers under Gen. William “Grumble” Jones advanced through Greenland Gap, a deep pass through New Creek Mountain in present Grant County. The Confederates encountered 87 Union soldiers who held off several assaults before finally surrendering.
April 25, 1923: Union leader Arnold Ray Miller was born at Leewood on Cabin Creek in Kanawha County. In December 1972, he defeated Tony Boyle to become president of the United Mine Workers and served until 1979.
e-WV is a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council. For more information, contact the council at 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25301, call 304-346-8500 or visit wvencyclopedia.org.
During the Gold-Blue spring game on Saturday, the West Virginia coaching staff named wide receiver Cyrus Traught the recipient of the 2026 Tommy Nikolich Award.
The award, which is always given out at the end of spring ball, recognizes a walk-on team member who has distinguished himself through his attitude and work ethic. The award is presented in memory of Tommy Nickolich, a former WVU player (1980-82) who passed away from cancer in 1983.
Traugh is a Parkersburg native and graduate of Parkersburg South High School. He began his career at Youngstown State before transferring back home to play for the Mountaineers last season. In his final year with the Penguins, he logged 36 receptions, 409 yards, and a team-leading five touchdowns, two of which came against Pitt.
During the 2025 campaign with the Mountaineers, he saw action against Robert Morris and Kansas, playing 10 snaps against the Jayhawks, but did not record any stats.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez has mentioned him twice this spring as someone who has been doing some good things and making progress. Wide receivers coach Ryan Garrett also showed him some love during his press conference last week.
The Mountaineers completely revamped the wide receiver room this offseason, upping the level of talent at both inside and outside receiver spots, but perhaps Traugh can work his way into the mix if he puts together a strong summer and fall camp. If he’s not a regular in the rotation, he’ll serve as a quality depth piece who can play special teams.
Past Nickolich Award winners:
2025: Clay Ash, RB
2024: Avery Wilcox, S
2023: C.J. Cole, WR
2022: Nick Malone, OL
2021: Graeson Malashevich, WR/H
2020: Osman Kamara, S
2019: Jake Abbott, LB
2018: Evan Staley, K
2017: Nick Meadows, LS
2016: Jon Lewis, DL
2015: Justin Arndt, LB
2014: Michael Calicchio, OL
2013: Connor Arlia, WR
2012: Tyler Anderson, DE
2011: Ryan Nehlen, WR
2010: Matt Lindamood, FB
2009: Josh Taylor, DL
2008: Adam Hughes, LS
2007: Andy Emery, LB
2006: Tim Lindsey, LS
2005: George Shehl, H/DB
2004: Jeff Noechel, LB
2003: John Pennington, WR
2002: Moe Fofana, RB
2001: Jeremy Knapp, TE
2000: Ben Collins, LB
1999: Bryan Lorenz, LB
1998: Mark Corman, TE
1997: David Lightcap, DB
1996: Matt Ceresa, OL
1995: Rob Keys, DB
1994: Randy Fulmore, DB
1993: Matt McCulty, WR
1992: Brett Parise, WR, Ray Wilcox, LB
1991: Keith Taparausky, RB
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