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Parkersburg City Council maps out goals for 2024

By Evan Bevins 5 min read

PARKERSBURG -- Addressing slum and blight and the need for housing, construction of a new fire station, downtown development, parks, youth activities and improving streets, sidewalks and alleys were identified by members of Parkersburg City Council Thursday as priorities for 2024.

And while some council members want to continue allocating funding for a proposed recreation and activity center in City Park, others still oppose the plan to build it on the site of the nearly 100-year-old pavilion.

Those topics were among a variety discussed in the workshop that has become an annual tradition recently for members of council. Five of the nine members were present, and two others submitted their suggestions for the Committee of the Whole meeting also attended by Mayor Tom Joyce.

Although there was no public forum, 17 people - including multiple candidates for the upcoming council election - listened to discussions in the executive conference room on the second floor of the Municipal Building.

Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl was the first to broach the topic of the proposed $13 million center, identified as the Parkersburg Community Building in the recent five-year capital improvement plan distributed to members of council last month by Joyce. She said she still favors it being a City Park but referenced another site as a potential alternative.

"It would cost us some money, but it would be absolutely beautiful," she said.

Councilman J.R. Carpenter, who as vice president was chairing the meeting, said he wants to see the question of whether to build the community building in the park placed on the ballot as a non-binding question.

"Speaking for my district, nobody wants it at City Park," he said.

Councilwoman Cathy Dailey, who was appointed to fill the vacant District 9 seat in December, asked about the reasons for the opposition. Carpenter said people were concerned the park would be too crowded if multiple events were happening at once and there were limits on how much the park could grow and expand.

Councilwoman Wendy Tuck was the only council member who expressed support for the ballot idea.

"My district, an overwhelming number, do not want it," she said, adding they feel there is no opportunity for economic development around the park.

Council President Mike Reynolds said he has talked with people about the proposal. Of the ones who opposed it, "almost all of them were above the age of 70 and they didn't want it there because they didn't want anything to change in the park," he said.

Reynolds described the pavilion, which would be torn down, as "pretty close to worthless."

"That place over there, I'm sorry, is a dump," Kuhl said. "You cannot fix it."

Councilman Zach Stanley, who was not in attendance but submitted his suggestions to City Clerk Connie Shaffer, said continuing to allocate money for the building in City Park should be a priority, along with building a replacement for the Depression-era Fire Station No. 3 at 13th and Liberty streets at the site of the former Econo Lodge on Seventh Street.

Councilman Chris Rexroad echoed that in his list sent to Reynolds. Tuck said she'd like to see a decision made on the station "to be able to be assured that we're going to get to the fire quickly and get it out."

Stanley also suggested a $5,000 annual raise for police officers.

Tuck suggested a strategic plan for development along 13th Street from downtown to Seventh Street and more information about plans for improvements to the St. Marys/Dudley Avenue corridor. She said there are problems with "a lot of alleys in general (that) are high and the water flows into yards."

Reynolds asked for support in finding funding to replace the seawall at the City Park pond. Joyce said the city has applied for a grant but has not gotten an answer yet.

Reynolds also asked the mayor to try again to staff a program in which property owners pay for the cost of materials to repair sidewalks and the city provides the labor. There was difficulty in hiring people to do the work a few years ago, which Reynolds attributed at least in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dailey said residents in her district appreciated the progress made in paving but felt there were still areas that needed addressing. They're also concerned about blighted housing, lighting enhancements to promote safety and helping downtown grow and prosper to benefit the entire community, she said.

Carpenter suggested some changes to council rules and agreed with Dailey on supporting the downtown, particularly attractions that draw people to the city's central business district, which is part of his council district and where he formerly owned the Crystal Cafe.

Rexroad also stressed the need to continue working with state and federal officials about regulations for substance abuse treatment facilities and group homes.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com

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