Pratt Mayor Ann Neese has less than a month to figure out how to fix the town's sewer system.

Neese said last month that problems with a sewer leak near Pratt Elementary School had already been corrected. But Mike Zeto, chief inspector for environmental enforcement for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said raw sewage is still a problem in Pratt.

"Before, the [sewer] pumps weren't pumping at all," Zeto said Monday. He said the pumps are now running in Pratt, but still don't have enough capacity to keep raw sewage from overflowing during periods of heavy rain.

Last week, DEP officials ordered Neese to come up with a plan to fix the two sewer leaks in town. DEP officials found that raw sewage spills out of a utility cover on Campbell Street and runs into Paint Creek from a pump station near the elementary school during heavy rains.

They ordered Neese to come up with a plan within 30 days. "A lot of the things we've corrected," Neese said Monday.

Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy said he talked with the mayor about the sewer problems and said Neese is working on a plan to fix them.

"She's trying to determine exactly how much it will cost to fix all these conditions," Hardy said. He said Neese hopes to have a cost estimate for fixing the sewer system within the next few days.

Hardy said Pratt Town Council is about to approve a rate increase for city residents. If the rate increase won't cover repairs to the sewer system, Hardy is willing to use county money to help pay the bill.

Hardy is prepared to provide emergency funding for Pratt's sewer problems at a regular meeting of the Kanawha County Commission on Thursday.

But getting the funding approved could be difficult. Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said Monday he was unwilling to give Pratt more money.

"I have a lot of questions," Carper said. "I question the ability of the current administration to run their affairs.

"If there's going to be a vote on this, and there's going to be money given, the mayor is going to have to be present, and she's going to have to give clear answers."

To contact staff writer Rusty Marks, use e-mail or call 348-1215.

Pratt Mayor Ann Neese has less than a month to figure out how to fix the town's sewer system.

Neese said last month that problems with a sewer leak near Pratt Elementary School had already been corrected. But Mike Zeto, chief inspector for environmental enforcement for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said raw sewage is still a problem in Pratt.

"Before, the [sewer] pumps weren't pumping at all," Zeto said Monday. He said the pumps are now running in Pratt, but still don't have enough capacity to keep raw sewage from overflowing during periods of heavy rain.

Last week, DEP officials ordered Neese to come up with a plan to fix the two sewer leaks in town. DEP officials found that raw sewage spills out of a utility cover on Campbell Street and runs into Paint Creek from a pump station near the elementary school during heavy rains.

They ordered Neese to come up with a plan within 30 days. "A lot of the things we've corrected," Neese said Monday.

Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy said he talked with the mayor about the sewer problems and said Neese is working on a plan to fix them.

"She's trying to determine exactly how much it will cost to fix all these conditions," Hardy said. He said Neese hopes to have a cost estimate for fixing the sewer system within the next few days.

Hardy said Pratt Town Council is about to approve a rate increase for city residents. If the rate increase won't cover repairs to the sewer system, Hardy is willing to use county money to help pay the bill.

Hardy is prepared to provide emergency funding for Pratt's sewer problems at a regular meeting of the Kanawha County Commission on Thursday.

But getting the funding approved could be difficult. Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said Monday he was unwilling to give Pratt more money.

"I have a lot of questions," Carper said. "I question the ability of the current administration to run their affairs.

"If there's going to be a vote on this, and there's going to be money given, the mayor is going to have to be present, and she's going to have to give clear answers."

To contact staff writer Rusty Marks, use e-mail or call 348-1215.