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Parkersburg URA meeting ends abruptly

Woman arrested after causing disruption

By Evan Bevins 3 min read

PARKERSBURG -- After a brief regular Parkersburg City Council meeting Tuesday, an Urban Renewal Authority session ended abruptly when an individual disrupted the meeting.

A woman, whose name could not immediately be confirmed after the meeting, exited the council chambers after the meeting adjourned and was arrested shortly afterward by Parkersburg Police.

Council President Sharon Kuhl said the woman made a threatening remark before Kuhl called police. The woman had been shouting about constitutional rights and refused to stop speaking after multiple requests from Kuhl and other council members.

"We could not complete the meeting," Kuhl said. "I had no choice."

The authority had just returned from a rare executive session to discuss property they recently purchased for more than $120,000 at 19th Street and Dudley Avenue. The parcels included two residential buildings and a large commercial structure that still houses Runyon Lock Service, despite the building's dilapidated status.

City Attorney Blaine Myers said the discussion was going to involve the business entity and other matters that would fall under exemptions to the open meetings law that allow for closed, executive sessions.

Kuhl said there were questions about the business and individuals that members "didn't feel right in asking them in public." No decisions were made, she said, and the matter will be taken up at a future URA meeting.

Kuhl asked for motions after council returned from the 20-minute executive session. Councilman J.R. Carpenter questioned the use of a recently formed subcommittee that included two council members and whether its activities were subject to public notice. That's when the woman interrupted the meeting.

Prior to discussion of the 19th Street and Dudley property, the authority voted 7-2 to reject an application to purchase a vacant lot at 407 Fourth Ave., with some members considering the offer of $500 too low.

The applicant, Kevin McCleary, indicated plans to build a garage with an apartment over it at the site, City Planner Connor LaVelle said.

The property was acquired by the URA via eminent domain in 1999 or 2000 but had not been purchased or redeveloped in part because at 4,225 square feet it was smaller than the minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet for the neighborhood business zoning district. Because of that, it could not be rebuilt upon more than two years after the demolition of the previous structure.

That changed earlier this year when council approved a new ordinance that removed the time restriction and allowed for construction on non-conforming lots as long as they followed setback requirements for how far the structure must be from the property line.

LaVelle said that change resulted in the offer on this property. Councilman Mike Reynolds said he could not support it because the proposed purchase price was too low.

"Normally I would agree with you on that, but it's sat there since 1999," Kuhl said.

Councilwoman Wendy Tuck asked if they could request a higher price. Councilman Zach Stanley said they could reject the offer and the prospective buyer could make another.

The authority rejected the offer, with only Kuhl and Councilman Ray Eubanks voting in favor.

The council meeting lasted just over 10 minutes. The only action council took was to receive and file Mayor Tom Joyce's reappointments of Warren Bigley, Joseph Caltrider and Fred Albright Jr. to the Parkersburg Housing Authority and Dave McCrady to the Policemen's Civil Service Commission.

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