Wood County Assessor David Nohe delivers the county property books to the Wood County Commission on Monday as the Board of Equalization and Review will be in session until Feb. 22. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission granted a variance for video lottery and received the property books from the Wood County Assessor’s Office to begin the Board of Equalization and Review.

On Monday, Matt Jones, Ben Jones and Beth Jones of KJ’s River City Perk Cafe on W.Va. 2 (Emerson Avenue) near Interstate 77 appeared before the commission to see about a variance for video lottery machines.

Matt Jones said the state has some new machine becoming available for businesses to bid on. He was helping his children, Ben and Beth, secure some machines for their business in hopes of helping the business grow.

“A lot of businesses are closing up because of COVID and we are looking to grow and expand,” he said.

They currently operate an establishment in Mineral Wells that has video lottery that the commission approved a couple years ago. Jones said they live in the county and support local causes whereas other such businesses have out-of-town ownership and a lot of the money made leaves the area.

“We keep the money in the county and support the county,” Jones said.

The commission approved the variance, 2-1 with Commission President Blair Couch voting against. He reiterated his concerns with have so many of these machines in the area and the problems they lead to for people.

Currently there are 682 machines in Wood County alone, Couch said. He is glad to see them being moved out of neighborhoods, but still wants the numbers decreased.

In other business, personnel from the Wood County Assessor’s office delivered the property books to the commission for the start of the annual session of the Board of Equalization and Review.

People can make appointments with the commission to go over the assessed value of their property if they feel a mistake was made. The board’s meetings this month will mostly coincide with the regular commission meeting times starting 10 a.m. on Mondays and Thursday.

The board officially convened Monday but had no scheduled appointments.

Taxpayers can come before the board beginning 10 a.m. until noon on Feb. 4, 8, 11, 16 and 18. If afternoon appointments are needed, the board will convene from 1-3 p.m.

Feb. 15, is President’s Day holiday and the courthouse will be closed so a session is being scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 16. Hearings also will be available 5-7 p.m. Feb. 8 by appointment only.

The commission will examine and review the property books in regard to each hearing, making adjustments if deemed necessary. Commissioners suggest any issue with property valuations be taken up with the Wood County Assessor’s Office first, although it is not a requirement and people can appear before the commission to discuss it.

The commission has had few people appear over the last couple of years because people went through the assessor’s office first and were able to work out any issues beforehand.

The Board of Equalization and Review will conclude Feb. 22.

Contact Brett Dunlap at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com