PARKERSBURG - Paving at the site of the former Wood County magistrate court building will begin after county commissioners selected a firm to do the excavating.
The commission also approved funding for fencing a new sheriff's department impound lot at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport.
Terry Moore, airport manager, said he is allowing the sheriff's department use of the property that is unused. There are no immediate plans for other uses for that land. The property will remain the airport's property.
"It's going in down at the far southeast corner of the airport," Moore said.
The area is within the airport's fence, which caused Commissioner Steve Gainer to question the need for additional fencing.
"It's already inside the airport's fence. It's already a secure area. I'm not sure why we need to pay for additional fencing," Gainer said.
Three cost quotes were obtained for the 458 feet of fencing for the new, larger impound lot. Three quotes were obtained, Hastie Fence was the lowest at $11,450 and the quote was accepted by the commission. Hastie was already on site at the airport doing other fencing for the airport authority.
Sheriff Jeff Sandy said the current impound lot, located behind the holding center, is becoming crowded.
"That's where we store cars that have been seized and need to be retained for evidenitary purposes. We need a secure place to house them," Sandy said. The sheriff said the current lot can only accommodate, depending on size, seven or eight vehicles.
The holding center is closed and unused. A new holding center was constructed inside the new Wood County Justice Center. The fate of the old holding center, which is the former county jail, has not been decided. The property may be sold or the building demolished. Sandy noted the unknown future of the property was another reason to move the lot.
"We are no longer at that location and we needed more space, so the airport suggestion seemed like a good one," Sandy said. The current impound lot is located in what used to be the old recreation area of the former jail.
"It's a win-win situation. It's going to allow law enforcement agencies, in addition to the sheriff's office, to place vehicles there, including the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force," Sandy said.
In other business, the commission selected a price quote of $6,500 from Tim Graham Excavating to do excavating work for a parking lot at the former magistrate court building site.
After receiving price quotes they felt were high, the commissioners asked county engineer Bill Brown to coordinate the project, county officials said the city of Parkersburg has agreed to spread and roll the gravel/asphalt, which the county will buy.
Brown earlier provided the commission with drawings, drainage and scope of work, including curbing. Brown said the county was under a deadline as the seasonal closing of area asphalt plants loomed.
The former magistrate court building was torn down in June. Plans call for the parking lot to be constructed on the vacant lot that sits in front of the Wood County Justice Center. The magistrate court, along with sheriff's law enforcement and holding center, have all been moved to the new justice center.
No final announcements have been made regarding parking in the lot, whether it will be metered, for public usage or reserved.
