Wood County Commission meets at historic city home
Wood County Administrator Marty Seufer reads the minutes from first meeting of the Wood County Commission on Aug. 12, 1799, at the historic Phelps-Tavenner House at 2410 Camden Ave. where the original meeting was held. The commission met at the home Monday to commemorate the event. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
Wood County Commissioner Jimmy Colombo, left, and Bob Enoch, president of the Wood County Historical Society, look over models of the Fort Neal. The society would eventually like to have a replica of the fort built near the Phelps-Tavenner House on Camden Avenue. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
Wood County Administrator Marty Seufer reads the minutes from first meeting of the Wood County Commission on Aug. 12, 1799, at the historic Phelps-Tavenner House at 2410 Camden Ave. where the original meeting was held. The commission met at the home Monday to commemorate the event. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
Wood County Commissioner Jimmy Colombo, left, and Bob Enoch, president of the Wood County Historical Society, look over models of the Fort Neal. The society would eventually like to have a replica of the fort built near the Phelps-Tavenner House on Camden Avenue. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
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PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Commission looked back at its history while looking to the future during its meeting Monday.
The regular meeting of the Wood County Commission was held at the historic Phelps-Tavenner House at 2410 Camden Ave. to commemorate the first meeting of the Wood County Commission on Aug. 12, 1799, at the home.
Commissioner Jimmy Colombo, Wood County Clerk Mark Rhodes and Wood County Administrator Marty Seufer attended in person along with a number of the members of the Wood County Historical Society. Commission President Blair Couch had to attend via phone due to another commitment and Commissioner Bob Tebay was absent.
Officials had the meeting minutes from the first meeting of "the Justices of Wood County" transcribed with Seufer reading them at three different times as people came into the meeting.
The minutes discussed people present and how the organization of the court with nine people named as justices, including Hugh Phelps, whose house they were in. It was suggested a Clerk Pro Tem should be appointed. A "Stephen Nelson" was named by some of the justices, "but not generally approved of" and a John Stokely was appointed Clerk Pro Tem.
A man referred to as "Mr. Delancy" was selected to help direct the justices in their proceedings. He later observed there appeared to be an additional commission and it was the opinion that the governor neither in equity or law had the right to add to the commission.
"He produces the Constitution of Virginia as well as several law authorities to support his opinion," the minutes read. "His opinion of the justices were taken whether those named in the additional commission had a right to sit.
"The opinion of the majority was that they should withdraw that they refuse to do said. Abner Lord and Joseph Spencer dared any person to attempt to remove them, but when William Lowther came forward and offered to swear in as Sheriff, two of them abandoned the courthouse."
Colombo drew some parallels with how politics, in certain instances, operate in the present world. Seufer agreed.
"I read a lot of history," Seufer said. "Everyone thinks today is an anomaly. Things were worse in the old days. It was a lot more political, believe it or not. It has never been calm."
Officials discussed the ongoing lease negotiations for the communications tower near I-77 and the Wood County 911 Center with American Tower. The tower is located on county land and the county has an agreement to use the tower for emergency communications equipment.
"American Tower reached out to us and want to extend the lease," Seufer said. "They want people to locate on the tower so they can make some money and won't do so unless they have a long-term lease."
The current agreement expires in 2028.
American Tower proposed eight additional five-year terms with rent paid to the county of $1,000 a month. A 2% rent increase is figured in starting in 2029. The county will also continue to be able to put emergency communications equipment on the tower at no charge. American Tower would also do a one-time payment of $15,000.
Seufer said the current agreement has no money involved as when it was first agreed on it benefited everyone as American Tower got a site to put the tower on and the county got a tower to put its communications equipment on.
"Our main concern has been expansion of 911 service," Colombo said, adding Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard reviewed the specs to make sure the county can do what it needs to do on that tower.
Couch and Colombo agreed to an offer from American Tower.
An emergency communications tower was recently put on property owned by Chemours near the Washington Works plant to help enhance communications in that part of the county, Colombo said.
Bob Enoch, president of the Wood County Historical Society, talked about plans for the Phelps-Tavenner House, where Monday's meeting was held.
The Phelps-Tavenner House serves as a resource center for the historical society, which among other projects is requesting residents who have their family histories provide the information to be included in the archives.
One of the society's long term projects is to build a replica of Fort Neal. A concept drawing was done that would put the rebuilt fort just off the grounds of the house where the City Maintenance Garage is. Officials hope a deal could eventually be worked out with the city to acquire the land. There are a couple of models in the house showing what it might look like.
Enoch said they have also been looking at a scaled back plan to do things they want to do, but still fit in a limited space.
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com