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Parkersburg City Council approves pavilion rates, reporting requirement

By Evan Bevins 4 min read

PARKERSBURG - Rates for the new Simms Powell Pavilion in City Park were finalized Tuesday, along with a requirement for council to receive a report on its usage twice a year.

The rates remained unchanged from the first reading, which passed 8-1 on Sept. 22, with Councilwoman Wendy Tuck opposed.

This time it was unanimous, after an amendment to require a report every six months - rejected last month - was narrowly approved.

"We want to make sure it succeeds," Tuck said.

The rates include $150 an hour for private rentals with less than 50 attendees and $250 for more than 50, both with a two-hour minimum. They would have access to the conference room, kitchen and gymnasium, with all sports equipment.

The arena can be rented for the day for $1,000 by nonprofits and $3,000 by for-profit entities with an add-on of $400 and $600, respectively, for the gym. A second concurrent day would receive a 25% discount, with a discount of 50% for a third concurrent day.

The day rate for rental of the gym is $500 for nonprofit and $700 for for-profit. Setup and tear-down service is $50 per labor hour.

Tuck made a motion to cut the nonprofit rates in half, but it was rejected 5-4, with Councilmen Zak Huffman, Chris Rexroad and Rob Moore voting in favor. Moore voted against the same motion last month, when it failed 6-3.

Tuck also proposed an amendment to require quarterly reports on the usage of the facility, including the name of the party renting it and number of people, what area of the facility was used, the length of time, the rate paid, fees, waivers, charges for damages and the total paid.

A motion to require a report every six months was rejected 6-3 on Sept. 22, with Tuck, Huffman and Rexroad in favor. Multiple residents in the public forum and public hearing criticized council for voting against reports at that meeting on Tuesday.

"Is it possible for us to have a monthly report since we're the ones paying the (subsidy)?" Parkersburg resident Ray Vannoy said. "It's my money; you're supposed to give me the operating cost if I ask for it."

In response to a question from Tuck, Development Director Ryan Barber said the report she sought could be produced. Finance Director Eric Jiles, sitting as acting mayor with Mayor Tom Joyce absent, said the administration had no opinion on including the reporting requirement in the ordinance, but "this information is available upon request from Ryan at any time."

Council President Andrew Borkowski said he didn't oppose requiring the report but thought it should be in a separate resolution, rather than part of the ordinance setting rates. Kuhl said she could support six months rather than three.

The amendment for quarterly reports failed 5-4, with Tuck, Huffman, Rexroad and Moore voting in favor.

Huffman made a motion to require reports every six months. Although Borkowski repeated his preference that it be a separate item and Kuhl agreed, that motion passed on a 5-4 vote with Reynolds joining the four who voted for the first one.

In other business, council unanimously approved a budget revision allocating the carryover in the Capital Reserve Fund that ended June 30. Most of the money was for purchase orders made before the fiscal year ended but not fulfilled until after. Another $200,000 was earmarked for the purchase of a new fire truck.

The first reading of an ordinance rezoning property belonging to and including Beamer's Auto Body on Ninth Avenue was tabled on a 7-2 vote, with Reynolds and Borkowski opposed. Some residents said in the public forum that the change would be detrimental to the character and safety of their neighborhood.

Council also unanimously passed a resolution reappointing Edward McDonough to the city Audit Committee, tasked with obtaining audit services and overseeing any corrective action associated with audit findings and concerns, and the first reading of an ordinance accepting the conveyance of property at 714 Market St. from the Urban Renewal Authority and authorizing an application for a federal EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant.

An ordinance on first reading to amend city code to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit on a lot or parcel containing a single-family dwelling, to reflect a new state law, passed 8-1, with Huffman opposed.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

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