Photo by Evan Bevins Parkersburg Urban Renewal Authority Chairwoman Sharon Kuhl listens to discussion during a URA meeting in council chambers Tuesday.

PARKERSBURG — A Parkersburg City Councilwoman said she would vote against the library levy on the upcoming ballot over the content of a book a citizen brought before council Tuesday.

The discussion came at a meeting in which council voted unanimously to terminate the operation and management agreement with the new owner of the Memorial Bridge, since it will be closed to traffic until the ongoing $50 million rehabilitation is complete, and appropriated $1.89 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the Southwood Park pool renovation.

At an Urban Renewal Authority meeting afterward, members voted 5-3 to accept the slightly lower of two offers on a modular home that was part of the city’s affordable housing initiative.

During the council meeting’s public forum, Jessica Rowley spoke about “Gender Queer,” a graphic novel she said was recently displayed at the library that contains sexually explicit material. Rowley said it violates city and state ordinances regarding obscenity.

“I’m asking you as the City Council, mayor, leaders of our community to do something to protect our children,” she said.

Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl said the copies of pages in the book Rowley shared “just absolutely sickens me.”

Responding to a question from Kuhl, Assistant City Attorney Rob Tebay said the police would enforce the obscenity statute but noted there would be First Amendment issues involved.

He said council could entertain a resolution expressing its concerns to the library board.

Kuhl pointed to the library renewal levy on the Nov. 8 general election ballot and said she would not vote for it. Councilman Ray Eubanks said he shared Rowley’s concerns about the book.

Parkersburg & Wood County Public Library Director Brian Raitz declined to comment Tuesday night, saying he wanted to gather more information. He previously addressed the issue in a Parkersburg News and Sentinel op-ed after it was discussed at a library board meeting, saying that libraries house a large variety of materials and reflect many viewpoints.

“To meet the needs and desires of everyone, this challenging and uncomfortable part of public libraries is inevitable,” he wrote.

The termination of the bridge agreement passed with almost no discussion. The city had continued to employ the part-time toll collectors and perform other functions even after Parkersburg Bridge Partners closed on the sale of the span in March.

Traffic had been restricted to a single lane, but the company elected to close it entirely in August, saying motorists kept ignoring signs and traffic directions, creating safety risks.

Parkersburg Bridge Partners will reimburse the city for any costs still outstanding, city officials said.

A second 9-0 vote authorized the transfer of $1,890,000 in ARPA money to the general fund and then the parks and recreation capital project fund, along with a $673,000 federal grant for the replacement of the Southwood pool and addition of various features.

There had been $2,767,844 allocated to the project, but the bids for equipment and construction came in at $5,329,928.50 with architectural and engineering services and contingencies included. The overage was attributed primarily to rising material costs.

As the Urban Renewal Authority, members considered two offers for 1116 E. 12th St., the second modular home in the city’s $500,000 affordable housing project.

Applicant Megan Gaines spoke to council about her desire to live near her mother in the neighborhood in which she grew up and one day have children attend her alma mater, Jefferson Elementary Center. Her mother, former boss and property manager at her apartment spoke in support of her application. Gaines’ offer was $65,000.

The authority also received an offer from Doug Lockhart for $72,000. Both met income eligibility guidelines and were pre-approved for loans, City Planner Connor LaVelle said.

Lockhart was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting.

Kuhl, the URA chairwoman, told members they needed to follow federal guidelines and operate as “a business, basically.

“Unfortunately, we cannot let our personal feelings into this,” she said.

Councilwoman Wendy Tuck said she would prefer to make the decision on more than just the amount of the bid.

A motion to accept the $72,000 offer was rejected on a 5-3 vote, with only Kuhl, Council President Zach Stanley and Councilman Bob Mercer voting for it. The $65,000 offer was accepted on a 5-3 vote, with Kuhl, Stanley and Councilman Chris Rexroad opposed.

Rexroad said he voted against both offers because of “the amount we spent on those houses.” He said he knew the city would not make back the cost of acquiring the land and building the houses but he felt they could have received more.

Kuhl acknowledged both bids were lower than the $100,000 the authority accepted for the first of the houses, after not taking an $80,000 offer.

“The housing market has dropped off tremendously. Interest rates have gone up tremendously,” she said. “So it’s going to be tougher and tougher to sell it.”

Tuck said she did not feel one applicant was better than the other but she felt like young women don’t often get an opportunity like this.

“My thought is who has access to what resources,” she said.

Development Director Ryan Barber said the authority was under no requirement to accept the higher offer.

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