City Planner Connor LaVelle speaks during a Parkersburg Urban Renewal Authority meeting Tuesday in council chambers at the Municipal Building. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — An application by the city code enforcement director to buy two vacant lots was withdrawn after Parkersburg City Council members acting as the Urban Renewal Authority questioned whether it was appropriate.

At Tuesday’s URA meeting in council chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building, Code Director Andy Nestor said he learned the city owned 1910 and 1912 29th St. after inspecting other property in that area. They were acquired in 2020 and Nestor was appointed to his job in April of this year, so he was not involved in the acquisition.

Because he works for the city, Nestor sought clarification on whether he could put in an offer for the property.

City Attorney Blaine Myers told council members there was nothing in state or city code prohibiting him from doing so, since he is not an employee of the URA itself. Myers said it was up to council to determine whether to approve the offer.

“The city attorney’s not the arbiter of those kinds of things, and I just think you all need to … use your best judgment,” he said.

Parkersburg Code Director Andy Nestor answers a question during Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting as, seated from left, Development Director Ryan Barber, City Planner Connor LaVelle and Fire Chief Jason Matthews listen. In the Urban Renewal Authority meeting that followed, Nestor withdrew his application to purchase two lots the authority owns on 29th Street. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“I just submitted an offer the way I thought everybody else (could),” Nestor said.

Parkersburg resident Alisa Prince questioned how people knew certain properties, including the 29th Street lots, were for sale when they were not listed with others on the city’s website.

“I didn’t know they were up for sale. It’s down the street from me,” she said.

Councilwoman Wendy Tuck said she appreciated Nestor being cautious but knowing the properties were for sale when they aren’t listed on the website “gives you a little bit of an unfair advantage.”

City Planner Connor LaVelle said catalogues listing all the properties are available in the Development Department and that information will eventually be posted on the city’s website. Although all the properties weren’t posted online, he said, potential acquisitions by the URA is advertised in the newspaper and posted on meeting agendas.

Parkersburg City Councilman Chris Rexroad looks at information projected on a screen during an Urban Renewal Authority meeting Tuesday in council chambers at the Municipal Building. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“The acquisition of these properties is made very public,” LaVelle said. Any perceived advantage by Nestor “doesn’t exist, especially for a property that was acquired in 2020.”

Councilman J.R. Carpenter said Nestor has “skin in the game on all of our properties here.

“You have the same access as she has, as he has, as everybody has,” he said. “But just because of the total gray area, I have to stay away from this.”

At that point, Nestor said he was withdrawing his application to purchase the property. He said he might consider another bid in the future, once more clarification is made and other people have a chance to consider making an offer.

With that, the authority moved on to a request that they purchase a dilapidated structure at 2508 26th St. for fair market value of $1,000, after demolition costs are subtracted, from owner Sham Rolston. The authority voted 6-0, with Councilwoman Jesse Cottrille and Councilmen Bob Mercer and Mike Reynolds absent, to do so.

Earlier in the meeting, the authority approved on a 6-0 vote an application from Kevin and Pam Farr to purchase 2508 Highland Road for $3,354.45, with the intention of refurbishing the dilapidated house there.

“This is not their first rodeo,” Nestor said, referring to other rehab projects by the Farrs. “It is a lot of work, but yes, it is doable.”

An offer of $1,000 from a neighbor to purchase a vacant lot at 1602 Park St. was accepted on a 5-1 vote, with Council President Zach Stanley opposed.

The authority also approved the donation of the following properties on unanimous votes:

* 1415 Covert St.

* 1220 23rd St., 1008 George St., 1038 24th St., 1220 24th St., 1710 Latrobe St., 2426 Dudley Ave and 2800 Broad St.

* 1618 Avery St.

* 1324 Lynn St.

* 1803 Camden Ave.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

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Want More?

* Copies of the catalogue of Urban Renewal Authority properties are available in the Development Department on the fifth floor of the Parkersburg Municipal Building.