Williams County Commissioners meet with attorney on AquaBounty’s recent permit decision.

The Williams County Commissioners met with their attorney on AquaBounty’s recent permit decision but have some time before their deadline for appeal. Commission President Bart Westfall says the commissioners were still in discussions for their next course of action. AquaBounty and the village of Pioneer requested the use of county right-of-way to install two water utility pipes, one to transport raw water and another to transport treated wastewater. Commissioners denied their application three times saying it doesn’t constitute a public utility. On appeal, Judge Reeve Kelsey rejected the arguments made by commissioners and ordered them to approve promptly the right-of-way use application. He said the village expects the commissioners to comply with the court order. Thompson cited an Ohio Revised Code section, which requires the commissioners to act within five days of the order. However, Westfall says they have 30 days to appeal, which would be Feb. 17.