The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department Building at 211 Sixth St., Parkersburg. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department has officially left its longtime home on Sixth Street in Parkersburg, county officials said Monday.

The Wood County Commission was notified the health department was officially out of the building located at 211 Sixth St. and that “they handed in all of their keys,” Wood County Administrator Marty Seufer 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 while the commission looked for a new location.

The commission looked at different sites around the area, considered having a new building built and more. A deal was eventually worked out late August 2024 where the health department would lease space at St. Joseph’s Landing, the former St. Joseph’s Hospital, and relocate the health department there.

The health department took over the former St. Joseph’s Hospital Emergency Department and the fourth floor in the medical office building on the grounds as well as an office on the first floor. They took over space for their Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program where PARS had set up operations for a couple of years so there were exam rooms in place and other things that wouldn’t have to be built to accommodate the health department when they moved in.

The county is leasing 32,400-square-feet at the facility. With all of the expenses factored in, the health department is paying $18,525 a month in rent.

Many of the health department operations have been moved to St. Joseph’s Landing, said Amy Phelps, Public Information Officer for the MOVHD.

“We are moved out of the Sixth Street building,” Phelps said. “Our Community Health offices and Administration offices have yet to be completed, and those employees are in temporary offices at St Joseph Landing.”

The commission is looking at options regarding the Sixth Street building. Commission President Blair Couch, who serves on the health department board, said the health department has been at the Sixth Street location since the 1970s.

The commission has considered having the building torn down which is estimated to cost over $100,000.

“We think there will be a better option,” Couch said.

He has been contacted by people who might be interested in purchasing the building.

Commissioners have discussed the possibility of transferring the building to the Wood County Development Authority or another group to be able to facilitate the sale. The Sixth Street building has a walkway that connects to Campbell’s Plaza located at 214 Seventh St. and there are things that would have to be worked out regarding that. The commission looked at Campbell’s Plaza as a possible location for the health department last year.

Couch said they might look at seeing if the Sixth Street building can be included in a group of buildings in downtown that would be sold as part of one sale.

“I think there is potential to sell it,” Couch said.

In other business, the commission was informed Josh Blue of the Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department is the new president of the Wood County Fire Board and the commission announced two positions on the board they are looking to fill.

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