(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

PARKERSBURG – The Wood County Commission put a number of properties that were suspended back on the tax books and also approved a measure to go out to bid for the demolition of a dilapidated property.

Malloree Thorn, Land Sales Tax Deputy, appeared before the commission with a list of 12 properties, all identified by their numbered designation, that had been suspended.

The commission approved putting those properties back on the tax books to be able to collect taxes on them.

“Several real estate property taxes have remained suspended for years, often due to previous tax deed holds or invalid payments,” Thorn said. “We want to unsuspend properties that have been suspended for a little too long so we can get them back on the books and get them back in the taxpayers’ hands so we can start getting taxes from them again.”

The State Auditor’s Office outlines the process for relisting previously suspended properties; the current year and four years of delinquent taxes may be certified to the state if advertised together, with Commission approval, Thorn outlined in a letter to the commission.

The commission unanimously approved the measure.

The commission put the property at 4405 Sayre Ave., Parkersburg, out to bid for demolition, according to Wood County Compliance Officer Levi Brady.

“There is an old dilapidated home there,” he said, adding he met with the county engineer and owner in August and informed the owner of the DEP Dilapidated Home Program

“That house is falling in,” Brady said, adding that parts of the house are falling in, bowing on the front, and other structural concerns. There is open access at four points, walls are cracking in multiple places, the foundation is cracked in multiple places, water damage with mold and more.

The owners are supportive of having the home torn down due to safety concerns.

“They are all on board to get things moving,” Brady said, adding an engineering report was done.

The jobs would qualify for removal under some of the dilapidated property cleanup grant money the county gets from the state. Once they are awarded, the work would be paid through the state Division of Environmental Protection Dilapidated Properties Program Grant, officials said.

“We can put it out to bid and get rolling on it,” Brady said.

The commission unanimously approved putting the job out to bid.

In other business, the commission presented a Spirit of Wood County Award to Joran Edwards of the Wood County Day Report Center after 10 years of service at the center.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com