Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce speaks during Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — Mayor Tom Joyce outlined some of his frustrations with the West Virginia Division of Highways Tuesday prior to Parkersburg City Council’s unanimous approval of a resolution calling on the agency to improve the way it handles roads and infrastructure in the city.

“I don’t want to fight with Highways,” Joyce said, adding that he’s nevertheless been clashing with them since he took office in 2017. “We do need better cooperation, better partnership.”

The resolution took issue with the timeliness of the division’s mowing and weed control, as well as adjustments and repairs to downtown traffic signals. Joyce said city workers will sometimes troubleshoot those lights, even though they aren’t supposed to.

“Because if we don’t, they don’t get fixed,” he said.

Joyce said state officials in the past have indicated it isn’t their responsibility to address stormwater drainage issues on their roads and rights of way within the city.

“Traditionally, the DOH takes the position, that’s not our fix,” he said, noting the city has done some repairs out of necessity. “The reality of it is, we can’t afford to do our work and their work.”

During the public forum, Parkersburg resident Sue Ellen Waybright said she was glad council was addressing the issues with the state. She said storm drainage problems cause water to back up in multiple areas in south Parkersburg.

“All residents of Parkersburg deserve to have safe streets,” Waybright said.

Prior to the unanimous approval of the resolution, council amended it to specifically address the communication to officials including the secretary of Transportation and members of the state Senate and House of Delegates.

Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Warren Bigley and Mike Vierheller to the Board of Zoning Appeals after the appointment process was questioned during the public forum.

Parkersburg resident Brian Hayden pointed out that municipal code says terms on the board are for three years and expire on Jan. 1. He questioned the timing of Tuesday’s appointments and whether action taken by the board could be challenged as a result.

Prior to council’s vote, City Attorney Blaine Myers said state law indicates that when a term on a board like this one expires, the members can continue serving until officially reappointed or a new appointment is made. The timing of the appointment would not affect the propriety of their service, he said.

Parkersburg resident Colt Morningstar asked if the city screens appointees to bodies like the BZA for potential conflicts of interest. Council President Mike Reynolds said council does not answer questions during the public forum.

“It’s not a back and forth,” he said.

“It’s very unfortunate,” Morningstar said.

He also questioned Reynolds’ announcement that the required public hearings on two cable franchise agreements that passed 8-1 on final reading would be held during the public forum instead of prior to the votes on each ordinance. No one spoke on those topics.

In other business, Joyce issued a proclamation declaring October National Disability Employment Awareness Month and said city crews had repaired 42 potholes and used the jet truck to clear 32 stormwater drains in the last six weeks. He also noted the city filled its assistant city engineer position after it had been vacant for more than two years.

“(City Engineer) Adam (Stout) had to design everything, supervise everything, draw everything that wasn’t outsourced,” Joyce said.