Wood County Resiliency Center Director Sydney Weber appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday to discuss different aspects of the new center. County officials set the grand opening for the facility on Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The new Wood County Resiliency Center will have its grand opening in early January as officials discussed how much will be charged to rent the facility and more.

Resiliency Center Director Sydney Weber appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday to discuss different aspects of the center, including rental charges, work that still needs to be done at the center and more.

The grand opening is scheduled for Jan. 7 with tours being offered. Officials are compiling an invitation list.

Officials were looking at two possible dates for the grand opening, Thursday, Dec. 19, or Tuesday, Jan. 7. Weber was worried about the December date being too close to Christmas and not having a lot of people around as well as it being a slower time of the year for people.

“The closer to Christmas we get, the worse it is going to be,” Wood County Administrator Marty Seufer said.

Wood County Resiliency Center Director Sydney Weber appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday to discuss different aspects of the new center. County officials set the grand opening for the facility on Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“After Christmas and New Years, people will be looking for something to do.”

Plans are in place to take pictures of the facility and do a tour video of it to put online so people can see what is available there.

The whole facility is rented at $3,000 a day. The cost of set up, tear down was compared to the marketplace. Officials are looking at options of special pricing for rentals that might occur multiple days.

The different board rooms will be $25 an hour, which is the same as the Fort Boreman Room at the Judge Black Annex.

Commission President Blair Couch said they will be interested to see how people react to the rates.

Weber said the rates were based on what is being charged at different locations around the state.

The county is compiling a list of preferred caterers to present to potential clients. The list currently includes Valley Catering, the Blennerhassett Hotel and Grand Pointe Conference Center. Weber said they have others they are reaching out to.

Weber is drawing up a standard contract that will explain to the caterers their responsibilities in cleaning up the kitchen and so on.

“That way we will have it in writing,” she said. “It explains their responsibilities when they enter the building and exit it.”

Commissioner Jimmy Colombo asked what kind of inquiries she has gotten regarding the facility.

“The reactions have been incredible,” she responded. “We have 15 meetings and events already on the books for next year and we haven’t even had the grand opening yet.

“That is encouraging.”

Once the rates are out, people know more about the facility and it is marketed a little bit more Weber believes the interest in the facility will grow.

She also believes that the facility will help bring business to other event facilities in the area, especially the Blennerhassett Hotel which is right up the street.

“If there is something we can’t handle (through scheduling or other things) we will refer them to these other facilities,” Weber said.

They discussed the need for trash cans, floor mats at all entry points, podiums, cell phone reception and other things that will need to be purchased for the building. There are other items county officials want the builders to address before everything is finished.

Officials will also have a $250 damage deposit put down for each rental which can be refundable. Weber wants to look at the possibility of having the client pay for any security for events over 100 people. Officials said they would talk with the sheriff to see what could be worked out.

Weber asked about parking for the facility.

Officials talked about getting remaining items out of the old sheriff’s department building and getting the county maintenance department moved into their new location within the new building. That would allow the county to tear down the old sheriff’s building and create some spaces, adjacent to the building. Other officials said since events would likely be in the evening and weekends, spots behind the Shaver Judicial Annex could be used.

Officials are still looking at options.

Commissioners wanted a regular weekly schedule about who will be in the building and when.

People are excited by the potential the center provides for the area, officials said.

“I think the community is responding really well to the building so far,” Weber said.