PARKERSBURG-The city will no longer collect a dog license fee.
Tuesday, Parkersburg City Council unanimously approved the final reading of an ordinance to repeal collection of $3 dog license fee.
Repealing the license collection should absolve the city of any financial responsibility to fund animal control services. By state code, the county is required to provide for animal control.
On first reading, at its Aug. 24 meeting, council members John Rockhold and Nancy Wilcox voted against the measure. However, both said their vote was more symbolic than anything.
Tuesday they joined the rest of council in approving the final reading, 9-0. The ordinance was approved without discussion.
While the repeal goes into effect immediately, Finance Director Doug Life said approximately 90 percent of the fee has been collected for this year.
Fact Box
Council Action
Parkersburg City Council unanimously approved the final reading of an ordinance to repeal collection of $3 dog license fee.
City officials were hoping to swap a set of short-term parking spots on Avery Street in exchange for an undeveloped lot at Seventh and Juliana streets, but council failed to make a motion on the final reading of the ordinance.
The city planned to develop the grass lot for parking to accommodate students at the new downtown campus of West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
And it will take council approval for any additional funds to be given to the county for animal control. The city had previously turned over $10,000 to the county for animal control.
Mayor Bob Newell said it was his intention to ask council to allocate the collected fees to the county.
Council also failed to consider the final reading of an ordinance regarding a proposed property swap between the city and a downtown business owner.
Newell, in his executive message, asked council that the ordinance fail for lack of a motion, a second or simply be voted down.
Officials were hoping to swap a set of short-term parking spots on Avery Street in exchange for an undeveloped lot at Seventh and Juliana streets. The city planned to develop the grass lot for parking to accommodate students at the new downtown campus of West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
The proposal rankled several downtown business owners who were concerned over the possible loss of the metered lots.
"I feel confident something could have been worked out, but we didn't have the time for a number of reasons," Newell said.
When the item came to council for consideration, no one made the motion for approval.
Jim Boyles, owner of A Man's Place on Fifth Street, thanked city officials for stopping the swap.
Newell has said he will meet with Charles Erickson and discuss the possibility of purchasing the lot. Newell said there is still a need for off-street, transitional parking with the coming of WVU-P's downtown campus.
