Williams County commissioners defend decision to deny right-of-way.

The Williams County commissioners defend their decision to deny Pioneer and AquaBounty’s use of county right-of-way and the two entities have rebutted them ahead of a court hearing Thursday. Commissioners have denied Pioneer and AquaBounty’s application for working in the county right-of-way three times, citing outside counsel’s belief it doesn’t constitute a public utility. The applications were for a permit to install two waterlines, one to transfer raw water and another to transfer treated wastewater. Pioneer and AquaBounty have appealed twice, with the latest appeal set for oral arguments at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Williams County Common Pleas Court. Last month, commissioners’ attorney, Aaron Glasgow of Isaac Wiles & Burkholder, filed a brief defending their decision. Although pertaining to the second appeal, this document was filed under the initial appeal.