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NEW CUMBERLAND - The Hancock County Public Service District (PSD) woke early Monday morning to hold an official celebration for the completion of its state Route 8 sewer project.

The project was marked as being substantially completed on Nov. 23, meaning that only customer line hook-ups remain.

Congress member Alan B. Mollohan as well as all three Hancock County commissioners attended the gathering.

"This has been a long-awaited event," Commissioner Jeff Davis said. "This project was first submitted to the infrastructure council in 2001 at an estimated cost of $13 million."

Davis stated that the project was revised and resubmitted to the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council (IJDC) several times before it was approved in 2002 at a final cost of approximately $18 million.

"We would sincerely like to thank the congressman for his overwhelming generosity and the PSD for their hard work," Mollohan said.

Most of the funding for the project was acquired through grants and loans, Davis said.

Davis provided those gathered with a breakdown of the costs, as follows: $4.8 million from the federal Department of Environmental Protection through Mollohan's special appropriations grant; $1.4 million in grant funding and $5.4 million in a loan from the IJDC; $1.5 million from the Hancock County Economic Development Authority; $4.5 million in a loan from the state Department of Environmental Protection's Clean Water State Revolving fund; and $192,000 from the Hancock County Commission for tap-in fees.

"It seems like just yesterday that we were ceremoniously breaking ground on this," Mollohan said. "I know the county commission has been on this project for several years, as well as the PSD."

Mollohan stated that the small group at the gathering is the most deserving of celebration.

"These are the folks that have worked the hardest, kudos to you," he said.

Following the gathering at the New Manchester VFD, the group made its way to the sewage treatment plant in New Cumberland, where the official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held. Plant Manager Jeff Sutko and the PSD board members then provided Mollohan and the commissioners with an in-depth tour of the plant.

The state Route 8 sewer system is set up to serve 670 customers. Those who have not yet signed up for service may do so at the Hancock County Courthouse during business hours Tuesday and Wednesday with PSD member Cindy Jones. Customers must go to Jones's office in the Hancock County Commission suite on the third floor.

In addition to paying the security deposit, which is $85.72, future customers are required to complete an application of service and bring photo identification when they sign up for the service.

Customers may not connect to the system until they have paid the security deposit and received confirmation that the service is available to them.

Current and future customers may direct questions (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays) to the Hancock County PSD office at 304-797-8353.