The former Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department building at 211 Sixth St. The Wood County Commission wants to see if they can sell the property so they won’t have to prepare the building for the upcoming winter months. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission is considering conducting an auction sale of the former Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department building in the near future.

Wood County Maintenance Supervisor Todd Nonamaker appeared before the commission Thursday to inquire about their plans for the former health department building located at 211 Sixth St.

The inquiry was regarding whether the maintenance department was going to have to plan to winterize the building to prevent its pipes from freezing since the building is now unoccupied, Nonamaker said.

Officials agreed they wanted to see if the building could be sold at an auction on the courthouse steps before getting prices for demolition.

“Let’s see if we can sell it,” Couch said.

Nonamaker said he cannot shut off the water in the building without affecting the fire sprinkler system.

“In that case, I have to keep the gas on so we can keep the furnaces running and we don’t freeze the pipes this winter,” he said.

In late May 2024, a waterline break caused the MOVHD offices to close after sustaining a lot of damage. The health department’s operations were moved and conducted at different sites around town until the commission decided to lease space at St. Joseph’s Landing (the former St. Joseph’s Hospital).

Health department officials informed the commission in mid-June they were completely out of the building on Sixth Street and “handed in all of their keys,” county officials said.

A specific date for the sale has not been set yet. Wood County Administrator Marty Seufer said they will have to advertise the sale in the local newspaper soon.

County officials will plan to have a time when they can take interested parties on a tour through the building.

“We can do that,” Seufer said.

Couch said they would consider all bids.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.