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Dec 28, 2023

Parkersburg City Council lays levy rates, approves LED grant application

Apr 19, 2023 Parkersburg City Council President Sharon Kuhl discusses an item on

Apr 19, 2023

Parkersburg City Council President Sharon Kuhl discusses an item on the agenda during Tuesday's meeting in council chambers at the Municipal Building. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg City Council voted to lay the property tax levy rates for 2023-24 and authorized the mayor to apply for a grant to fund lighting upgrades at City and Southwood parks during a short meeting Tuesday.

The first regular council meeting of April was held on the third Tuesday of the month instead of the second due to state law requiring levy rates to be set on that day.

No one spoke during a public hearing to consider objections to the budget estimate for the levy rates, which remained unchanged. With Councilmembers Jesse Cottrille, Bob Mercer, Mike Reynolds and Zach Stanley absent, the five remaining council members – the minimum required to conduct a meeting – voted unanimously to receive and file the state auditor's approval of the municipal levy estimates and lay the rates for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Another 5-0 vote passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Tom Joyce to submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Energy for $76,150 to fund LED lighting enhancements.

"The plan is to replace the lights at the City Park tennis courts and the Southwood Park pond," Joyce said.

Mayor Tom Joyce speaks during Tuesday's Parkersburg City Council meeting at the Municipal Building. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Public Works Director Everett Shears has been working to replace the city's lighting with LED fixtures over the last six years and is getting close to reaching that goal, Joyce said. LED lights are brighter, consume less energy and have longer lifespans than incandescent lights.

Council also voted 5-0 to approve the final reading of an ordinance extending the time periods related to hearings before the Building Enforcement Agency.

People who receive a notice to repair, close or demolish a structure will have 20 days instead of 10 to request a hearing. The agency, consisting of the mayor and other city officials, will have 45 days instead of five to schedule a hearing and 15 days, instead of 10, to issue a decision.

Council will meet again next week, on April 25.

Parkersburg City Council met Tuesday with a quorum of five of its nine members to conduct a light agenda, including the laying of the levy rates for the 2023-24 fiscal year. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

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