CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Officials in the town of Pratt have not responded to a request from Kanawha County officials for information under the state Freedom of Information Act.

On Feb. 8, Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper sent a FOIA request to town officials asking for payroll records from Pratt's water and sewer plants. Officials for the state Department of Environmental Protection and Public Service Commission say the sewer plant is often unmanned and lacks a certified operator.

Town officials say several part-time workers work at the water and sewer plants, but at a recent meeting of the Kanawha County Commission they were unable to name them all. County officials are trying to force a merger of Pratt's sewer system with the Upper Kanawha Valley Public Service District and Chelyan PSD.

Under state law, any government agency has five days to respond to a request for public information under the Freedom of Information Act. But as of Tuesday, Carper said Pratt officials had not even acknowledged that they got his request.

Pratt's five days were up on Friday.

"One would think at the very least they would respond to a legal request for information," Carper said Tuesday. "I assume that they have nothing to hide."

Carper asked that another FOIA request be sent to Pratt asking for the information.

Steve Hopkins, manager of the town's water plant, said Tuesday he was still putting the documents together. "We don't have all of that information here," he said.

Hopkins said he was waiting to get some of the information from an accountant.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.

On Feb. 8, Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper sent a FOIA request to town officials asking for payroll records from Pratt's water and sewer plants. Officials for the state Department of Environmental Protection and Public Service Commission say the sewer plant is often unmanned and lacks a certified operator.

Town officials say several part-time workers work at the water and sewer plants, but at a recent meeting of the Kanawha County Commission they were unable to name them all. County officials are trying to force a merger of Pratt's sewer system with the Upper Kanawha Valley Public Service District and Chelyan PSD.

Under state law, any government agency has five days to respond to a request for public information under the Freedom of Information Act. But as of Tuesday, Carper said Pratt officials had not even acknowledged that they got his request.

Pratt's five days were up on Friday.

"One would think at the very least they would respond to a legal request for information," Carper said Tuesday. "I assume that they have nothing to hide."

Carper asked that another FOIA request be sent to Pratt asking for the information.

Steve Hopkins, manager of the town's water plant, said Tuesday he was still putting the documents together. "We don't have all of that information here," he said.

Hopkins said he was waiting to get some of the information from an accountant.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.