×

Commission tables petition to de-annex properties in Vienna

PARKERSBURG — Wood County commissioners want more details before deciding whether they will de-annex properties in Vienna back into the county.

Vienna City Attorney Russ Skogstad appeared before the commission Monday with a petition approved by Vienna City Council to move the properties owned by attorney Jim Leach from the city to the county. Leach is also a Vienna city councilman, but this was Leach’s own matter as a businessman and separate from his position on council, Skogstad said.

Officials said Leach recused himself from the council action.

The agenda listed the properties as “1, 2, 3 CM Tavenner Addition.” Officials said these properties are separate from but adjoining to “Leach Beach” that Leach owns which is in the county and along the Ohio River.

The reason for the change is to be consistent with contiguous properties owned by the same owners and consistent with similarly situated properties in the area, Skogstad said.

”(Leach) basically wants to de-annex the property so it remains consistent with adjacent property owners,” he said. ”Since it wouldn’t fall under the city, it wouldn’t fall under our zoning.

”If it weren’t in the city, it wouldn’t be under our building requirements and code enforcement, like the other properties he owns in that area and that other people own below the railroad tracks.”

Commission President Blair Couch asked if there was a reason for the de-annexation, if there is a development planned in the area. Leach has held events in the area, including a Jazz Fest, and commissioners wondered if he preferred the Wood County Sheriff’s Department to do law enforcement over the Vienna Police Department, Couch asked.

”The reason he gave me was (in the petition),” Skogstad said.

Commissioner Robert Tebay asked why Leach did not appear himself to which Skogstad said he didn’t know, but said Leach was aware of the hearing. Being an attorney, the meeting Monday could have conflicted with his legal commitments, he added.

Tebay said he hoped that Leach wasn’t going to put a salvage yard in there.

”I think we need to know what his use is going to be,” he said. ”The county has enough problems to deal with. It is unusual to ask to be de-annexed.”

Skogstad said this was the second one he has seen and noted it is not a common practice. The other de-annexation that the county approved involved a planned development where part of the property was going to be in the city and the developer wanted it to be consistent and completely in the county.

The property in question was annexed into the city in the early 2010s, under a different owner, as a means for an establishment to gain gaming machines, but it didn’t work the way it was planned, Couch said.

There were possibly gasoline storage tanks in the area at one time, officials said.

”I would hate to see something come into Wood County that would become a nuisance,” Tebay said. ”If it is I certainly couldn’t vote for it.”

The commission decided to table the petition until a time Leach, as property owner, could appear before the commission and discuss its potential use.

”We’ve got questions,” Couch said.

In other business:

∫ The commission discussed the security of its computer systems after other counties have experienced problems with hackers and ransomware issues. Officials were told the virus software is up-to-date and backups are done on a regular basis as well as having other security measures in place.

∫ Jessica Bolinger was sworn in as site coordinator for the Ritchie County Day Report Center. The Wood County Day Report took over the operations of the Day Report centers in Ritchie and Pleasants counties.

∫ Angela Brunicardi-Doss was sworn in as an assistant Wood County prosecutor.

∫ The commission put Joe Campbell in nomination for reappointment to the W.Va. Little Kanawha River Parkway Authority.

∫ The commission put Stephen Smith and Chris Sams in nomination for reappointment to the Enforcement Agency for the Abandoned and Dilapidated Building Ordinance.

∫ The commission put Tim Robinson in nomination for reappointment to the Wood County Fire Board.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today