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Wood County officials OK video lottery variance

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission Thursday approved a variance to allow limited video lottery at a location near the I-77 interchange along Emerson Avenue.

Commissioners Bob Tebay and Jimmy Colombo moved and seconded the variance while Commission President Blair Couch voted against it.

Charles McCay is planning to buy the Pioneer Adult Bookstore site along with a couple of lots to eventually develop a video lottery place and other businesses.

The commission already granted a variance for the property of the closed gas station next to the Pioneer bookstore.

The variance issued Thursday was done with the understanding that limited video lottery could be done on one site or the other, but not both.

McCay said expected changes in state law regarding the shortening of the distance between a gas station and a video lottery establishment, from 300 feet to 150 feet, would allow McCay to not have to tear down the gas station and could open the property up for another gas station.

Couch said he voted against the measure as part of his long standing belief against expanding gambling in the county.

Couch said he had nothing against McCay and said McCay always ran good businesses wherever he located.

A preliminary plan has the video lottery establishment, a City Perk, on the site of the Pioneer Adult Bookstore, McCay said

The commissioners commended McCay for wanting to clean up that area and wanting to remove the Pioneer Adult Bookstore, which some officials throughout the area felt gave the wrong impression for people coming into the area off the interstate.

“We applaud the idea of you purchasing that property, taking that out and proposing a different use for that property,” Couch said.

McCay said he expects to close on the property soon.

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