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Wood County Fire Board: Surnaik tops list of unpaid fire fees

Fire broke out in the IEI Plastics warehouse, the former Ames plant on Camden Avenue, on Oct. 21, 2017, and burned for more than a week, sending a thick black plume of smoke hundreds of feet into the air that was seen in Northern Ohio. The property is owned by Surnaik Holdings. (File Photo)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Fire Board released the list of the top 10 highest unpaid fire fees from 2016-2020 and Surnaik Holdings of WV LLC topped the list again.

Tim Robinson of the fire board appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday to present the list which totaled $78,215.80 in unpaid fees and included a number of local businesses and entities.

“The guy who caused the most expensive fire in Wood County history will not pay his fire fee,” Wood County Commission President Blair Couch said of Surnaik Holdings.

Fire broke out in the IEI Plastics warehouse, the former Ames plant on Camden Avenue, on Oct. 21, 2017, and burned for more than a week, sending a thick black plume of smoke hundreds of feet into the air that was seen in Northern Ohio. The property is owned by Surnaik Holdings.

Thirty-nine fire departments from the region were involved in fighting the fire, including a private contractor hired by the county from Washington, Pa.

Surnaik Holdings currently owes $23,742.90 in unpaid fire fees and was at the top of the list. The second highest amount owed on the list was Evergreen Holdings LLC with $9,356.04. Both are part of the Naik family of companies.

Both Surnaik Holdings of WV LLC and Evergreen Holdings LLC have the same corporate address of 8815 Center Park Dr. Suite 400, Columbia, Md.

Robinson said the names have been turned over to a collector, Richard Hayhurst.

“It is a long drawn out process,” he said.

Robinson said that collections were up 6 percent over last year, surpassing the $950,000 mark. Couch said that was on track to meet collections over the past few years.

Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said the funds have been able to help the local fire departments. Robinson agreed saying they have been able to make a number of improvements and been able to buy needed equipment.

The fire board has been holding its meetings at the different fire stations so members and others can see the work that has been done, he said.

The board is awaiting for two new appointments to be made to replace members who terms have expired. They have had challenges meeting a quorum at different times. They held a lot of Zoom meetings over the last year during the pandemic.

Local departments have reported a number of individual COVID-19 cases but there were no large breakouts among the departments, Robinson said.

Upgrades to online services allow people to check on their fire fees status which has cut down on the number of calls of people checking on it. Robinson said they hope to be able to add the ability for people to pay online soon.

Couch is hopeful for new businesses and others doing construction that will eventually add to the fire fee.

“Hopefully we get some new construction out in the county,: he said.

The others on the unpaid fire fee list are:

* Ohio Valley College Inc. of Vienna: $9,247.91

* Sams Real Estate Business of Vienna: $7,920.00

* Parkersburg Ind. Warehouse Co. of Wilmington, Del. – $7,253.46

* ACT Rentals Inc. of Vienna: $5,963.03

* Silicon Processors Inc. of Marietta: $4,011.16

* Camy LLC of Williamstown: $3,794.00

* Appalachian Shale Cracker Enterprise LLC of Atlanta, GA: $3,600.00

* Parkersburg Towne Center Parkersburg WV Limited Partnership of Coppell, Texas: $3,327.30

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com

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