Parkersburg resident Sue Ellen Waybright talks about her displeasure with the proposed budget revisions during the public forum portion of the regular council meeting Tuesday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

PARKERSBURG – Parkersburg City Council approved a resolution authorizing proposed budget revisions totaling $901,185 in the general fund, including money to the street infrastructure and capital reserve funds during a regular council meeting Tuesday.

Prior to the meeting, the budget revisions were reviewed by council’s Finance Committee, who asked questions before referring the resolution to the full council for consideration.

The revisions included $280,025 to street infrastructure and $140,000 to the capital reserve to be used for a fountain in the City Park pond, improvements to Pappas Plaza and construction on sidewalks.

During the committee meeting, Finance Director Eric Jiles said the budget revisions are based on the city’s current revenue. He said the budget has been done conservatively to allow for these adjustments as revenue comes in.

Although City Council approved the revisions in a unanimous vote, residents expressed displeasure with the changes at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

Parkersburg City Council President Andrew Borkowski, middle, responds to the public about the sanitation contract with Waste Management during the council meeting Tuesday evening. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Parkersburg resident Trish Pritchard said it was “disappointing to see the budget managed this way” and any adjustments should be made in a more timely manner.

“You’re supposed to budget accurately, and if you do have to make budget revisions you make them in a timely fashion and as quickly as possible so it doesn’t add up over a year’s time,” she said.

Parkersburg resident Sue Ellen Waybright said stormwater management should be a top priority because it affects everyone. She asked why only $55,000 was put toward the issue if council said in the past it was a priority.

“It seems like stormwater collection for families is not really a priority for this administration, just on city-owned properties,” said Waybright. “Stormwater issues affect every district and are a priority for the voters who put you into office and are paying for your salaries.”

Waybright said moving $140,000 to the capital reserve fund for a fountain at City Park was insulting towards hardworking individuals.

Parkersburg City Councilman Dave McCrady discusses his point of view as a member of council about the sanitation contract with Waste Management during regular council meeting Tuesday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Mayor Tom Joyce said stormwater expenditures and appropriations for projects have been spread out across different line items in the budget. He said they’ve been working on fixing stormwater since he had been on council in 2003.

“If you know anything about construction of any kind, digging it up and replacing it is exponentially more expensive than using the technology to line existing drains,” said Joyce.

Some speakers in the public forum took issue with council’s decision to approve a sanitation contract with Waste Management. The contract has not been signed as citizens pursue a referendum petition to have the ordinance repealed or put to a public vote.

Parkersburg resident Caci Petrehn said council has been neglecting the Sanitation Department since 2024.

“You are entrusted with public service and public service requires showing up, especially when it’s inconvenient,” she said. “Now we stand here with sanitation petitions totaling nearly 5,000 signatures.”

Councilman Dave McCrady said council made the best decision by contracting out trash and recycling service.

“When you actually look at the numbers and you actually see what’s going on, you’ll sit there and say, ‘you guys did do the right thing,'” said McCrady.

He said the city contracting out trash services was a better, more feasible option than asking residents to contract it on their own and figure it out.

“This is a change in who provides a service, not whether the service exists,” he said.

Council President Andrew Borkowski said there are two routes the situation could go in: either everyone has to contract out their own trash service or it’s contracted out through the city for a feasible price.

“This has been what we believe is the best path forward, and truly nobody wins with this petition,” said Borkowski. “I respect everybody’s ability to petition their government; I just caution everybody to understand what the outcome is based on the objective you’re trying to achieve.”

Joyce said although there are still many improvements needed in the city, they’ve come a long way and he’s proud of what they’ve achieved over the years.

“I know that we can do better on a lot of things and I know that we still have challenges ahead of us, but I’m not quitting and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished,” said Joyce.

The Parkersburg City Council will meet in council chambers at 7:30 p.m. on May 5 and 26 per a resolution approved by council Tuesday.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com