Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley Executive Director Sharon Doyle-Parsons addressed Parkersburg City Council about a possible partnership with the city during Tuesday evening’s meeting. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the Parkersburg Municipal Building on Tuesday.

Mayor Tom Joyce provided a brief report highlighting recent community events, particularly a successful Veterans Day celebration featuring a parade on Washington Avenue and a memorable Black Hawk helicopter flyover. The mayor expressed gratitude to local organizations and the city departments who contributed to the event’s success.

“I want to thank both (Fire) Chief (Jason) Matthews and (Police) Chief (Matthew) Board for their efforts, keeping everyone safe and ensuring a strong presence at the event,” said Joyce. “It was a wonderful day, weather-wise, and a great chance for the community to come together.”

During the public forum portion of the meeting, Lisa Doyle-Parsons, the executive director of Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley, spoke about an ongoing Parkersburg Engagement Project. The project, according to Doyle-Parsons, is a non-partisan effort aimed at identifying and addressing major community issues, particularly those surrounding those under economic strain. One of these projects is Circles’ Site to Bike program. Site to Bike offers refurbished bicycles for transportation for those in need.

“If you’re poor, you often don’t have access to reliable transportation,” she said. “Our program provides bikes to those in need, and it’s already changed lives.”

According to Doyle-Parsons, Circles received 37 bikes as a partnership with the City of Vienna and in the past three weeks they have already donated half of those out to the community. In order to receive one of the bikes, anyone can submit an application and they must attend a class on the rules of the road and bike safety. Doyle-Parsons said she hopes to find a way to seek partnership with the city of Parkersburg and, more specifically, the Parkersburg Police Department for this effort.

During the council forum, Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl announced the recent installation of a new plaque at the Seats of Honor at Southwood Park, which honors first responders.

“It took five years (to complete), but we now have something special for our first responders,” Kuhl said.

Other council members expressed thanks to election workers for their dedication and noted the relocation of the Children’s Home Society to a new facility, which will continue serving the community.

The council then moved to new business, approving a resolution setting council meetings for Dec. 10 and 17. An ordinance vacating a portion of the public right-of-way adjacent to properties near Jackson Avenue and Eighth Street was approved in the first reading. Another ordinance vacating a public right-of-way adjacent to 1301 West Virginia Ave., requested by the North End Church of Christ, was also passed on its first reading.

The next Parkersburg City Council meeting will take place on Nov. 26.