Parkersburg council approves upcoming projects

PARKERSBURG – The Parkersburg City Council approved several infrastructure projects and discussed ongoing issues with the sanitary sewer lining project as part of regular business on Oct. 3 at the Parkersburg Civic Center.

After hearing an update from the Public Works department on some of the infrastructure projects scheduled to be completed this fall, the council gave the green light to intake and storm sewer repairs on Dorothy Street, sub-drainage improvements on Brookside Drive and a sanitary sewer extension in Legend Trail Development.

Lee Gallentine provided an update on the sanitary sewer lining project that the city has been trying to shore up with a “punch list” of issues presented in May to the company that handled the project. Gallentine reported “very little progress” has been made, and the council authorized Gallentine to contact the company’s bonding company as soon as possible to encourage project completion.

The council also discussed a request from councilman Jon Abkes to provide water service to a property he owns inside of city limits to allow him to provide water to a property outside of city limits. Abkes noted that he would pay for and do the work himself.

The council discussed the precedence and procedures the city has to not provide water to properties outside of city limits unless owners apply for voluntary annexation into city limits, which Abkes stated he did not wish to do.

City Attorney Bruce Toenjes and Gallentine raised several items to consider in this matter, including funding the water system cost, water treatment concerns, water rates and pressure concerns, and discussion about what city ordinances require in order to be able to work on the water system. Councilman Virgil Goodrich requested more information, including a tax-rate comparison of the property outside of city limits versus inside of city limits. No formal action was taken on the matter.

In other business, the council:

- Set a public hearing date for the Urban Renewal Plan Amendment for the Parkersburg Urban Renewal Area for Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.;

- Approved a minor subdivision and the final plat of Parcel letter T and Parcel letter U as a minor subdivision in the land owned by Beverly Tuve Trust;

- Approved liquor license renewal for Legend Trail pending ABD approval;

- Approved a five-day liquor license for Beaver Meadows to serve at the Vets building, subject to ABD approval;

- Heard a library update from Julie Folken, including quotes for roof repairs and cleaning after a leak was recently discovered at the library - Folken also thanked the Darlene Johnson Memorial for a recent donation to the library and discussed past and future programming at the library;

- Heard an update from Roger Kregel with Dumont Telephone, providing his company’s plans to expand fiber optic infrastructure to every residence and business in Parkersburg city limits by the end of 2022, with 600 homes installed with fiber and 300 more remaining to be completed soon - any property owner or renter can contact the Dumont office to get signed up, if interested.