Trending
Legislation to increase the discount for prepayment of police and fire fees in the city of Parkersburg and apply a discount for prepayment of garbage fees is on final reading Tuesday before Parkersburg City Council.
A proposed ordinance would increase the discounts from 1.5% to 5% when payment is made in full for the 12-month period starting on July 1 and paid by July 20 for the police and fire fees. For this year, the discounts will be retroactive to July 1 provided the annual fee is paid by Aug. 26.
A second ordinance on final reading also would allow a discount for the prepayment of garbage fees and also allow a second trash container from Waste Management. The second bin will be owned by the city and rented for $5 a month until the cart is returned.
The discount for garbage fee will be 5% when paid by July 20 for the 12-month period starting on July 1. This year the discount will be retroactive to July 1 if paid by Aug. 20.
The fee for garbage service is $252 a year.
Council meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers in the municipal building.
Other legislation on the agenda includes resolutions that would: waive the residency requirement for assistant City Attorney Rob Tebay; allocate $10,000 for a new Downtown Business Accelerator, a downtown new business grant program, upon approval by the state auditor; adopt of the Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Action Plan budget of $860,498 and $414,392 for HOME projects and activities; and accept of a grant of $12,192 for new fences at the Worthington baseball and softball fields upon approval by the state auditor.
Tebay, an assistant city attorney for 32 years, in 1983 purchased and renovated an historical home on Core Road in the city.
"With time, life happens," Tebay said in a memorandum to the council.
Tebay said he and his wife must find a home capable of taking on an elderly parent, being closer to two of those parents and a handicapped daughter. His wife also has had a hip replacement and may need another in the future, he said.
"The two-story house I love no longer is reasonable for our stage of life," he said.
Ground-floor living homes are "severely limited," Tebay said. The commitment to serving as an assistant remains, he said.
"Unfortunately, a suitable home for our purposes was not readily found within Parkersburg city limits and we will be moving out of town," he said.
The Downtown Business Accelerator is intended to support entrepreneurs and small businesses to establish in the Central Business District. The program would provide modest start-up assistance of up to $2,500 while activating underutilized storefronts and strengthening the downtown business climate, a memorandum to council said.
"A thriving downtown depends on locally owned businesses that provide services, attract visitors and create employment opportunities," the memo said. "The Downtown Business Accelerator is intended to encourage new investment in the Central Business District while complementing the city's broader economic development initiatives.”
Recipients must provide a dollar-for-dollar private match. The grant can be combined with other state, local and federal programs such as the Downtown Facade Rehabilitation Program, the Strategic Site Readiness and Investment Initiative, the BUILD WV Act, Property Tax Rebate Program and the Business and Occupation Tax Credit Program.
Allowable uses include minor renovations, necessary equipment for business operations, furniture and fixtures, point of sale systems, initial inventory purchases, signs and lighting, professional legal, accounting and licensing services for start up and code compliance improvements to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy.
The program could not be used to buy real estate, refinance debt, pay delinquent taxes or fees, salaries or personal expenses and general operating expenses related to start up.
Also on first reading are ordinances:
* To transfer the property owned by the city at 912 Laverne St. and 909 13th St. to the Urban Renewal Authority.
* Rezone property at to B-2, General Business District, on West Virginia 95 near the intersection of Rayon Drive.