Parkersburg City Council member Sharon Kuhl responds to a member of the public during the public forum at the city council meeting Tuesday evening. Council members Roger Brown and Wendy Tuck listen. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

PARKERSBURG — The Urban Renewal Authority approved for chairwoman Sharon Kuhl to initiate a real estate sales contract for a potential property acquisition Tuesday, although details about the property are exempt under West Virginia’s open meetings law.

After meeting in a closed executive session for nearly 20 minutes, the authority, consisting of all nine members of Parkersburg City Council, voted 6-2 to approve entering into the contract. Council President Andrew Borkowski and Councilwoman Wendy Tuck were opposed, and Councilman Mike Reynolds absent.

The agenda included a public hearing portion which Councilman Chris Rexroad brought to URA Chairwoman Sharon Kuhl’s attention before the final vote.

“We can’t have a public hearing, and I don’t know why that was put in there (on the agenda) because no one knows the property,” she said.

Matters relating to the purchase, sale or lease of property are exempt from the state’s open meetings law. Development Director Ryan Barber said last week that the information would become public if a sale closes.

The Parkersburg High School girls basketball team stands in council chambers to be recognized for winning the Class AAAA state championship during Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

The second item on the agenda, for an application to purchase property owned by the URA at 111 Lawrence St., was moved to the authority’s May 12 meeting. The applicant, Kimberly Matheny, had been notified of the change.

The URA meeting followed Tuesday’s regular City Council session, during which Mayor Tom Joyce recognized the Parkersburg High School girls basketball team for winning the 2026 Class AAA girls basketball state championship, defeating Parkersburg South High School 59-53 on March 14.

“Keep doing the hard stuff,” said Joyce.

Coach Chris Murray introduced every member on the team and discussed the part they played in the victory.

“These players were awesome all year,” said Murray.

Members of the Parkersburg High School wrestling team are recognized as state champions during Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Wrestlers on the Parkersburg High School girls and boys wrestling teams were also recognized as individual state champions in their respective weight divisions.

Joyce said he knew the parents of a lot of the athletes.

“I wrestled and wasn’t nearly as successful as you all, but I know how hard it is, and I know life’s gonna knock you down and wrestling teaches you how to get up,” he said.

During the public forum, Parkersburg resident Jody Harper asked the council if they had any ties to Waste Management in regards to the sanitation contract bids for the city.

“I can assure you there is no one here on council that has any ties to Waste Management whatsoever,” said Kuhl.

Harper asked if there was a way Kuhl’s statement could be proven. Kuhl said all emails and communications between council members and Waste Management can be requested under the Freedom of Information Act. She said there is also information about Waste Management available on the city’s website.

The contract approved with Waste Management in January has faced opposition from some members of the public. A referendum petition to force council to reconsider the contract ordinance or place it before the voters was determined by the Wood County Clerk’s office to have fallen short of the required number of signatures. Petitioners are attempting to collect additional signatures, although City Attorney Blaine Myers has said the ordinance is not subject to the charter’s referendum provision because it involves allocating funds.

Other speakers in the public forum addressed public safety, wages of city workers and a request for a public forum with stakeholders from neighboring cities.

Council voted unanimously to pass and adopt all three ordinances on the agenda on final reading. They dealt with reclassifying the land surveyor position and establishing two new positions which are a budget and grant analyst in the Finance Department and an events and marketing coordinator in the Development Department.

Council also approved the mayor’s recommendation to appoint Stacey Robinson and Jordan Stewart to the Tree Commission for three-year terms.

Council also passed a resolution to hold the next council meetings on April 7 and April 21 due to state requirements for the budget.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com.