Parkersburg City Council approves alcohol sale permit for fundraiser (2024)

Parkersburg Assistant City Attorney Rob Tebay, right, speaks during an Urban Renewal Authority hearing Tuesday in City Council chambers at the Parkersburg Municipal Building as City Planner Connor LaVelle listens. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg City Council approved the temporary sale of beer and wine for a nonprofit fundraiser Tuesday, and members voted as the Urban Renewal Authority to press pause on the acquisition of a dilapidated house via eminent domain.

Council voted 7-0, with Councilwoman Jesse Cottrille and Councilman Zach Stanley absent, to authorize the sale of beer and wine at a fundraising concert for the Amputee Center on Friday, July 12, the night before its second annual Amputee Fun Fest. Based at Miller Prosthetics and Orthotics at 2311 Ohio Ave., the organization provides support and wellness programs to amputees and other community members.

“This organization is worthy of your support,” said Parkersburg resident Rob Miser, an amputee. “It’s one of those things that you don’t realize you need it until you need it.”

Nancy Miller, founder and president of the Amputee Center’s board, told council members the concert the night before was a new addition to the Fun Fest, which will include food trucks, vendors, live music and special guests like Tracy Danzey of the U.S. Women’s Amputee Soccer Team and Team Impossible founder Matt Hill.

“It is geared toward amputees and resources, but it is open to the public,” Miller said.

Parkersburg City Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl, left, asks a question of Nancy Miller, founder and board president for the Amputee Center, prior to council approving a resolution Tuesday authorizing the temporary vending of beer and wine for an upcoming fundraiser. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl said she appreciates what the center does but had questions about the impact of the concert and alcohol sales on traffic and safety.

“You are located on one of the five busiest streets in Parkersburg,” she said. “Are you going to limit how many (drinks) they can buy?”

Miller said she was not expecting a very large crowd or to have a lot of alcohol to sell. She said the center planned to hire two off-duty police officers to provide security, and Police Chief Matthew Board said additional measures could be taken if the crowd was larger than expected.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure safety,” Miller said.

Council also voted 7-0 to approve the first reading of an ordinance vacating an unimproved portion of 25th Street between New York and Brooklyn avenues.

During the public forum, Wood County resident Rick Dunn spoke in favor of plans to replace the pavilion at City Park with a larger community activity center. He said interest and participation in pickleball has exploded in the area and the new facility would provide players with a larger venue that could also be utilized in the winter.

“I and the rest of the pickleball community are finding we have outgrown this city and its resources to help us play this game,” Dunn said. “Please pass the proposal.”

Some people have expressed opposition to building the facility in the park.

During the Urban Renewal Authority meeting, members approved a request from the Development Department and city attorney’s office to suspend eminent domain proceedings for 1208 Ann St.

“There (is) a pending sale for that property,” City Planner Connor LaVelle said. The agreement includes a stipulation requiring the buyer to have their plan to improve the structure approved by the city code director “to see if they can rehabilitate the home and have it remain in private ownership,” he said.

The URA voted 7-0 to stay the eminent domain proceedings until their next meeting, June 25.

The authority voted 5-2 against accepting an offer to purchase 703 13th St. for $2,100.

“It’s a very solid house,” Council President Mike Reynolds said. “I think we could get a lot more than this out of it.”

Councilwomen Wendy Tuck and Cathy Dailey voted in favor of the sale.

A vote of 7-0 accepted the donation of a lot at 1211 Williams St., where the city had previously demolished a structure. Kuhl expressed reservations about taking the property and being unable to collect a $10,792.96 demolition lien, but Assistant City Attorney Rob Tebay said the lien was only collectible on the property itself. If the lot was not worth that much, the full amount could not be recovered.

LaVelle noted that the property exceeds the minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet.

No motion was made, and therefore no action taken, on an offer to purchase URA property at 1601 Staunton Ave. for $100. The applicant, who owns and operates the adjacent City Perk, indicated they planned to clean up the lot and put a concrete pad for a Dumpster on it.

The authority voted 7-0 to approve the purchases of lots at 1304 14th St. for $2,000 and 1325 St. Marys Ave. for $1,000. Both applicants said they wanted to plant flowers and trees on the properties.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com