Parkersburg City Council President Mike Reynolds takes a picture of Mayor Tom Joyce and representatives of the Arc of the Mid-Ohio Valley as a proclamation is read declaring October Developmental Disability Employment Awareness Month during Tuesday’s council meeting at the Municipal Building. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG – Parkersburg City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance establishing a cable franchise fee Tuesday and the final readings of two franchise agreements.

Also during Tuesday’s regular meeting, members unanimously approved a resolution demanding the West Virginia Division of Highways improve its maintenance practices in regard to state roads and highways within the city.

The first readings of new franchise agreements with CAS Cable and Cebridge Acquisition LLC were initially improved in September on 7-1 votes, with one council member absent. They included, for the first time, a cable franchise fee, which under state law is passed along to customers.

The city projects this fee will generate an additional $250,000 a year.

A separate ordinance establishing the fee passed 7-2 on first reading Tuesday, with Councilwoman Wendy Tuck and Councilman Zak Huffman opposed.

Parkersburg City Council President Mike Reynolds takes a picture of Mayor Tom Joyce and representatives of the Arc of the Mid-Ohio Valley as a proclamation is read declaring October Developmental Disability Employment Awareness Month during Tuesday’s council meeting at the Municipal Building. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“If you don’t have cable and you have high-speed internet by one of these cable providers, you don’t get charged” the franchise fee, Joyce said. “You’re paying sales tax on those.”

The final readings of the franchise agreements each passed 8-1, with Tuck opposed.

The Division of Highways resolution claims the agency “has failed and neglected its obligations.” It says mowing and weed control are not performed in a timely manner and results in storm drains being clogged and other maintenance issues. The resolution says the state does not maintain stormwater infrastructure within its roads and rights of way, causing the city to address it. It also describes sequencing of downtown traffic lights as “deficient, resulting in unnecessary traffic congestion, reduced efficiency of traffic flow, and thereby creating more hazardous driving conditions.”

Council also unanimously passed a resolution reappointing Warren Bigley and Mike Vierheller to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com