Parkersburg City Council Approves Contribution to Drug Prosecution Efforts | News, sports, jobs

Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure discusses his proposal to hire an assistant district attorney to oversee drug prosecutions and other efforts related to the drug problem during Tuesday's Parkersburg City Council meeting. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg City Council voted Tuesday to share with Wood County the salary and benefits of an assistant district attorney who focuses on the drug problem.

A resolution allocating $72,000 from the city's opioid lawsuit settlement funds to the position passed 6-0 at Tuesday's regular council meeting, with three council members absent.

The Wood County Commission voted last week to fund $144,000 in salary and benefits for the position that District Attorney Pat Lefebure had requested to address the increase in prosecutions of drug crimes and related cases. He also asked Parkersburg for input, with Mayor Tom Joyce saying last week it made sense because the city's police department has the highest call volume in the county.

Speaking to the City Council on Tuesday, Lefebure said that in addition to prosecuting drug crimes, the new employee will also work on other drug cases and work with the Parkersburg Violent Crime and Narcotics Task Force and other agencies. The assistant district attorney would help determine where suspects need to be in drug cases. “Whether it’s prison or drug rehab.” he said.

In addition to charges related to drug possession and trafficking, drugs play a role in petty theft and child abuse and neglect cases, Lefebure said. His office handled 198 abuse and neglect cases in 2018 and 338 in 2023.

Parkersburg City Council President Mike Reynolds (left) asks a question during Tuesday's council meeting at the Municipal Building as Councilmen JR Carpenter and Zach Stanley and Councilwoman Cathy Dailey listen. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“The vast majority of these are drug cases.” Lefebure said.

The commission approved the position for three years. Parkersburg's contribution would have to be approved annually, District Attorney Blaine Myers said.

The council also approved the first reading of an ordinance that limits building permit fees in newly annexed areas to no more than the amount they would cost in the county or former jurisdiction for projects begun within five years of annexation.

Councilman JR Carpenter made a motion to refer the ordinance to a committee to discuss what specific area would be affected and for how long. Joyce said he felt this was unnecessary as it was not specific to a specific area and was intended as an opportunity to do so “Level of competitive conditions” and encourage property owners to incorporate into the city.

“It’s really quite simple” he said.

Parkersburg City Councilwoman Cathy Dailey (left) speaks with City Planner Connor LaVelle after Tuesday's Urban Renewal Authority meeting. LaVelle leaves the city to take a job as a district planner for Athens. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Jouce said a property owner in a recently annexed area learned he would have paid less building permit fees if he had remained in the county.

Carpenter's motion failed within seconds and he, along with the other five council members, voted to approve the ordinance. A companion ordinance reflecting the change in another section of the city code also passed 6-0, with Councilwoman Jesse Cottrille and Wendy Tuck and Councilman Chris Rexroad absent.

Another 6-0 vote approved final reading of an ordinance requiring buildings to get their primary power from a utility or municipal power provider to prevent people from using portable generators as permanent energy sources.

Councilman Bob Mercer, who was not present at the Sept. 10 meeting where the first reading took place, asked if this was a major problem in the city. Joyce said it doesn't happen often, but it does happen more often and is a noise and safety issue.

“It happens more often than I expected, I assure you.” he said.

The council then met as an urban renewal authority and approved a request from Virginia resident Vladimir Guevara to purchase a vacant lot at 14th Street and St. Marys Avenue. In his application, he stated that he planned to build a three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom home there with an attached garage. The vote passed 3-2, with Carpenter and Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl opposed. Council President Mike Reynolds was not present at this meeting.

The board voted 5-0 to approve a request from the planning and code departments to demolish two buildings in the 1400 block of Lynn Street that were recently purchased with the mayor's approval for $2,000. City Planner Connor LaVelle said the request has been made “because the properties deteriorate excessively quickly.”

It was the final meeting for LaVelle, who is taking a job as district planner for Athens County. Kuhl thanked him for the work he did for the city and for what he taught her when she served as URA chair.

“We will miss you” she said. “You were a professional. You were a valued employee of the City of Parkersburg.”

Evan Bevins can be reached at [email protected].