Wood County Commission honors PHS athletes, authorizes demo bid
Members of the state runner-up Parkersburg High School girls swim team, from front left, Emily Jones, Haley Spencer, Lily Jones and Adelaide Vann receive commendations from Wood County Commissioners Jimmy Colombo, Jim Hamric and (back left) Blair Couch, as assistant swim coach Carty Ramsay, right, looks on at the courthouse Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Wood County Commissioner Jim Hamric, right, a former Parkersburg High School athletic director, speaks to members of the state runner-up PHS wrestling team, who were recognized during Thursday’s commission meeting at the courthouse. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Wood County Compliance Officer Levi Brady speaks to commissioners about a proposed dilapidated structure demolition in Washington, W.Va., during Thursday’s commission meeting. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Wood County Commissioner Jim Hamric, right, stands beside Parkersburg High School junior Stephen Myers, who won an individual Division I state wrestling title in March as the PHS wrestling team was recognized during Thursday’s commission meeting at the courthouse. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Members of the state runner-up Parkersburg High School girls swim team, from front left, Emily Jones, Haley Spencer, Lily Jones and Adelaide Vann receive commendations from Wood County Commissioners Jimmy Colombo, Jim Hamric and (back left) Blair Couch, as assistant swim coach Carty Ramsay, right, looks on at the courthouse Thursday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Wood County Commissioner Jim Hamric, right, a former Parkersburg High School athletic director, speaks to members of the state runner-up PHS wrestling team, who were recognized during Thursday’s commission meeting at the courthouse. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Wood County Compliance Officer Levi Brady speaks to commissioners about a proposed dilapidated structure demolition in Washington, W.Va., during Thursday’s commission meeting. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Wood County Commissioner Jim Hamric, right, stands beside Parkersburg High School junior Stephen Myers, who won an individual Division I state wrestling title in March as the PHS wrestling team was recognized during Thursday’s commission meeting at the courthouse. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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PARKERSBURG - Wood County Commissioners on Thursday recognized more achievements by area high school athletes and agreed to seek bids for another state-funded demolition of a dilapidated structure.
Commissioners opened the meeting by presenting plaques to members of Parkersburg High School's girls swimming and wrestling teams, whose members earned individual titles and as teams finished as runners up in their respective state championships.
The girls swim team finished a single point behind George Washington High School at the state championships in February in Morgantown.
"I couldn't be more proud of the girls' team this season," assistant coach Carty Ramsay said. "They blew our minds away as coaches."
Absent from the meeting Thursday was sophomore Delaney Snodgrass, who won two individual state titles. She and head coach Emily Martin were at a competition in Florida, said Commissioner Jim Hamric, a former PHS athletic director.
The Big Reds wrestling team finished runner up to University High School in Division I in March. They had six wrestlers in the finals and four individual state champions -- Stephen Myers, Dominic Way, Aidan Linko and Seth Drennen.
"I know this group, and they're going to work their butts off to get back there next year," coach Matt Littleton said. "Next year we look to come back strong and finish this thing on top."
Later, commissioners voted unanimously to seek bids for the demolition of a dilapidated structure at 33 Homewood Road in Washington, W.Va. County Compliance Officer Levi Brady said the house had originally been purchased with the intent of turning it into a business but those plans fell by the wayside.
"There's no saving that place, is there?" Hamric asked as Brady displayed photos of the property on a screen in the commissioners' meeting room.
"No, there's not," Brady replied.
The demolition will be funded with money from the state Department of Environmental Protection Dilapidated Properties Program Grant. The county originally received money to complete 12 demolitions at an estimated cost of $13,500 each. But with the actual bids coming in lower, they've been able to extend those funds to additional properties.
The grant covers demolition and cleanup. The owners retain the land.
Brady said that money is about to run out, but commission President Blair Couch said they won't stop addressing problem properties. Future demolitions would be funded by the county, with a lien placed on the property, he said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.