PRATT, W.Va. -- On top of their water and sewer problems, the financially troubled town of Pratt is also behind on paying its gasoline bill.

Like more than 40 other towns, cities and government agencies in Kanawha County, Pratt has a deal with the Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority to buy inexpensive gasoline and diesel fuel for city vehicles. But KRT assistant general manager Doug Hartley said the town is about $1,600 overdue in paying the bill.

Pratt Mayor Gary Fields, who took office July 1, said most of the city's bills were two or three months past due when he took over the mayor's office. He said town officials have been struggling to catch up.

Pratt's water and sewer systems have lost almost $500,000 over the past three years, town records show. Pratt's utility board owes the Internal Revenue Service close to $60,000, and repairs and upgrades to the water and sewer system are estimated to cost $2.5 million.

"The town's finances are a train wreck," said Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy, who grew up in Pratt.

Hardy is worried that the overdue gasoline bill will shut down the Pratt Police Department. The town relies on the fuel deal with KRT to fill up the town's police cars.

If necessary, Hardy said he will push to have county officials pay off the bill. "I think the [Kanawha County] Commission needs to ensure that there's gasoline to operate the police vehicles there," he said.

But Hartley said KRT is not ready to shut Pratt's fuel supply off. "We're hoping it will resolve itself," he said Friday. "We won't be taking any action until I speak with them."

Fields said he believes that checks to pay the overdue gas bill are already on their way to KRT.

With Pratt's sewer system in frequent violation of state environmental protection laws, the water system in need of maintenance and town-related finances in trouble, people -- including some Pratt residents -- are starting to talk about dissolving the town.

Hardy, whose parents still live in Pratt, isn't yet ready to support such a move.

"The town has been there since 1906," Hardy said.

"I'm not blaming the current mayor or current town council for their problems," he said. "You can trace the problems to the last few years, but before that you have a century of good finances."

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

PRATT, W.Va. -- On top of their water and sewer problems, the financially troubled town of Pratt is also behind on paying its gasoline bill.

Like more than 40 other towns, cities and government agencies in Kanawha County, Pratt has a deal with the Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority to buy inexpensive gasoline and diesel fuel for city vehicles. But KRT assistant general manager Doug Hartley said the town is about $1,600 overdue in paying the bill.

Pratt Mayor Gary Fields, who took office July 1, said most of the city's bills were two or three months past due when he took over the mayor's office. He said town officials have been struggling to catch up.

Pratt's water and sewer systems have lost almost $500,000 over the past three years, town records show. Pratt's utility board owes the Internal Revenue Service close to $60,000, and repairs and upgrades to the water and sewer system are estimated to cost $2.5 million.

"The town's finances are a train wreck," said Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy, who grew up in Pratt.

Hardy is worried that the overdue gasoline bill will shut down the Pratt Police Department. The town relies on the fuel deal with KRT to fill up the town's police cars.

If necessary, Hardy said he will push to have county officials pay off the bill. "I think the [Kanawha County] Commission needs to ensure that there's gasoline to operate the police vehicles there," he said.

But Hartley said KRT is not ready to shut Pratt's fuel supply off. "We're hoping it will resolve itself," he said Friday. "We won't be taking any action until I speak with them."

Fields said he believes that checks to pay the overdue gas bill are already on their way to KRT.

With Pratt's sewer system in frequent violation of state environmental protection laws, the water system in need of maintenance and town-related finances in trouble, people -- including some Pratt residents -- are starting to talk about dissolving the town.

Hardy, whose parents still live in Pratt, isn't yet ready to support such a move.

"The town has been there since 1906," Hardy said.

"I'm not blaming the current mayor or current town council for their problems," he said. "You can trace the problems to the last few years, but before that you have a century of good finances."

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