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PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Commission feels action needs to be taken soon on a property in disrepair on Lost Pavement Road after the county compliance officer showed photos of drug paraphernalia lying around the dwellings.
Wood County compliance officer Sarah Farnsworth appeared before the commission Monday to discuss the status of properties in the area where owners were contacted about cleaning up their properties.
On the property at 3453/3457 Lost Pavement Road in Parkersburg owners James and Drinda Richards were scheduled to appear Monday but called in to reschedule their meeting to Sept. 5.
Farnsworth still presented the commission with the photos and information she gathered at the property to familiarize them with its status.
She said three residential structures and two storage buildings were on the property.
She presented photos of hypodermic needles and other drug paraphernalia scattered about a home on one of the properties. Another residence had a note left saying the person was in treatment and would be back to live there.
An adjacent property owner, Russ Simpson, told the commission about tires from the property getting into a creek that runs on his property as well as other waste.
''Over the last 10 years, I have taken around 50 tires out of there,'' he said.
He has been visited by Family Services and other officials about what is happening on the property next to him.
Commission President Blair Couch said something needed to be done immediately with these properties as they are a danger.
Simpson said estimates he has gotten said it would cost $6,000-$10,000 to bulldoze the structures.
Couch said they have to follow the due process with the owners, but he wants to move quickly to address this. That includes possible citations, fines and possibly having a lien put on the property.
Couch said they will send a certified letter to the owners listing all of the violations and the need for them to take action.
''Let's move quickly on this,'' he said.
Farnsworth regularly inspects properties, usually after neighbors or someone complains about the state of the property. Complaints can deal with buildings falling apart, buildings left in a state of disrepair, trash being piled up on the property and other concerns, all of which can impact surrounding property owners and the value of their properties.
The commission can take action to get the properties cleaned up. Property owners are contacted and given the chance to clean up the property. After going through the due process and if nothing is done, the commission can take action to get the property cleaned up and bill the owner or place a lien on the property.
Wood County Sheriff Steve Stephens said some houses designated as "drug houses" have no utilities and are not fit for human habitation. He wants to see something where local officials can act more quickly in condemning these properties and removing them.
Couch wants to bring in the health department and other agencies, pick a couple of places and see what they can do.
Farnsworth presented other properties where work had been done and where nothing was done.
The property at 275 Bethel Road, Parkersburg, has had work done to clear out brush and other plant growth as well as repairs being made to the home. Owner David Harmon appeared before the commission to discuss it.
''It is looking better, but it is not done,'' Farnsworth said.
Harmon said he had renters at the property who tore it up taking all the plumbing and other things. Once he got those people to move out, local kids/teenagers would regularly break into the house and continue to vandalize it, he said.
He was also having trouble finding people to mow and the property was soon overgrown, he said.
Work is now continuing to address concerns, Harmon said.
Commissioners were pleased with the effort and the progress being made and were willing to give Harmon the time he needs to finish it. Farnsworth will follow up on the work.
Farnsworth asked the commission to bring in the owners at 1308 Gihon Road to discuss the status of the property.
Through the limited contact she has had, the owners have indicated the house would be tore down in the coming years.
''This house does not have several years,'' Farnsworth said. ''It is already dilapidated and uninhabitable.''
Trash was left all over the property. The house is not secured.
She said she has tried to contact the owners and has been hung up on two times.
The names of the owners were not presented during the meeting.