POINT PLEASANT — County officials have unanimously voiced their support of a proposed joint sewer project between local agencies.

During Thursday’s meeting, commissioners approved a resolution supporting the advancement of the project by the Mason County Public Service District and the City of Point Pleasant.

Commissioners cited a variety of reasons, including the increased availability of sewer service in the county, a larger customer base over which the city can spread expenses and support for the project from agencies such as the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

“This project will free up land in the Lakin area that, when combined with some neighboring tracts owned by state government agencies, will be one of the most attractive sites in the state for large commercial or industrial development,” Commission President Miles Epling said in a prepared statement. “Without this project, Mason County won’t be nearly as attractive to a prospective large employer.”

The $6 million project was approved by the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council earlier this year. The West Virginia DEP and the West Virginia Development Office also support the project.

According to a news release, the project will require approximately $1 million of upgrades to the city’s sewer plant and $5 million of new transmission lines from the Lakin Correctional Center to the city’s plant. The Lakin lagoon, which serves the prison, Lakin Hospital and the state police barracks, and the Camp Conley plant will be taken out of service.

Point Pleasant Mayor Leonard “Buster” Riffle said city residents will see an upgrade to the plant that will put the city in a better position to avoid future rate increases.

“There will be no rate increase to city customers as a result of this project,” Riffle added.

According to a news release, the PSD currently has the project under design and already hosted a public comment meeting. Further negotiations between the PSD and the City of Point Pleasant are expected within a month.

In other business, commissioners:

• Saw a presentation regarding the proposed expansion of the Kanawha Valley Dragway. Developers are working to secure approximately $25 million to build the West Virginia International Raceway Park on the site along U.S. 35 and said the county stands to reap economic benefits to the tune of $21 million in the first year and $123 million in the first five years.

The project includes a stadium that will seat 10,000 and host an array of events, including national and local races. The track will be a replica of the track at Bristol, Tenn., with the entire facility including a speedway, dragstrip and road course.

• Unanimously approved re-appointing Jack Sturgeon to a five-year term on the Mason County Board of Health.

• Adjourned at 4:55 p.m.

The next meeting will be 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 10.