Parkersburg City Council elects officers
URA hears building donation proposal
Parkersburg City Councilwoman Cathy Dailey, left, takes the oath of office before Tuesday’s council meeting. Also pictured are Mayor Tom Joyce, center, who appointed her to the vacant seat, and City Clerk Connie Shaffer. (Photo Provided)
The property at 714 Market St. was accepted as a donation to the city of Parkersburg by a vote of 6-1 during Tuesday’s Urban Renewal Authority meeting. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Parkersburg City Councilwoman Cathy Dailey, left, takes the oath of office before Tuesday’s council meeting. Also pictured are Mayor Tom Joyce, center, who appointed her to the vacant seat, and City Clerk Connie Shaffer. (Photo Provided)
The property at 714 Market St. was accepted as a donation to the city of Parkersburg by a vote of 6-1 during Tuesday’s Urban Renewal Authority meeting. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
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PARKERSBURG – Parkersburg City Council voted in their president and vice president for next year during Tuesday's meeting.
Current president Sharon Kuhl said she has enjoyed her time as council president, but was ready to give someone else a turn.
"We have done a lot this year. I feel that everyone on city council should get a chance to serve as president," she said.
Councilman Bob Mercer nominated Mike Reynolds for president. He was selected by an 8-0 vote, with councilman Zach Stanley absent.
Councilman Chris Rexroad nominated Kuhl for vice president, while Mercer nominated JR Carpenter, who received five votes to three for Kuhl.
After the council's meeting, the Urban Renewal Authority discussed an application from C&S Limited Liability Co. to donate 714 Market St. to the city.
City Planner Connor LaValle said the building is located in the Downtown Business District, which is in the city's comprehensive plan to increase housing and development opportunities. However, the authority would be responsible for carrying insurance and paying utilities on the building if accepted.
Reynolds said he toured the building Dec. 15 with Stanley, Fire Chief Jason Matthews, City Development Director Ryan Barber, and Code Enforcement Director Andy Nestor.
"The building seems pretty solid," he said.
There were a couple of spots. One of the pictures Connor showed where some water apparently had fallen down on the first floor and there were a couple ceiling tiles on the floor.
Reynolds said a potential use for the location could be installing apartments to attract individuals to downtown Parkersburg.
"Hopefully we could attract a developer in there who would be interested in developing a large-scale housing project. Either one-two bedroom apartments or loft apartments," he said.
Kuhl asked how much cost the authority would have to pay to carry property insurance and pay utilities.
Michael Corra, one of the property owners, said he paid between $400 and $500 a month for electricity and $450 a month for property insurance.
Council member Wendy Tuck asked Corra if he had any previous buyers and why they would donate it versus selling it.
"There is not an offer on the table." Corra replied. "It's a question of age, not of the building but the owners. We never found an offer that was appropriate for us."
The Urban Renewal Authority voted 6-1 to accept the donation, with Tuck voting against it. Carpenter and Stanley were absent.
Kristen Hainkel can be contacted at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com