For the life of me, I cannot understand some of Wood County, W.Va., officials' thinking. I live in Marietta and have owned river lots in Sandcastle Campgrounds, outside of Williamstown on Waverly Road since 1995.
In the beginning our property taxes were approximately $40 per lot, per year. Seventeen years later they are $140+ per lot, per year. Why?
Almost every year we have some sort of flooding situation, repairs need to be made, dirt and trees removed, items floated away, Wood County or Williams District, does nothing to help us. Our road is maintained by "our" association fee of $125 per year, per lot. This fee takes care of our sanitation (portable restrooms) and sometimes we have our campers pumped which is out of our pocket, roads maintained, and other problems we incur there. We paid $18,000 to bring electric to the campsite, and some of us even drilled our own water well. Consequently, Williams District offers no water to the campsite or sewer. We dispose of our own trash and maintain our own river bank with concrete we purchase and pay to have delivered.
So now that I have set the stage for you, here's my gripe with Wood County, Williams District and a county representative named Bill Anderson.
Let's take for instance Sandcastle has 33 personally owned lots at $100 per year, per lot for personal property taxes for 17 years. Now my math is a little fuzzy, but I come up with approximately $56,000. Then let's throw in the mix other river lots owned on Waverly Road, Beans Landing and Lane's Campsite, along with residents on Waverly Road, Carr Concrete and, not to mention, a $2 million Federal Fish and Wildlife facility on a $5 road. Shouldn't there be a nice road to travel to this very expensive facility (paid by taxpayers, I might add).
In 17 years, Waverly Road has never been paved. Why? With all the money being paid in taxes on Waverly Road, where is the money being spent?
The West Virginia Department of Highways just recently, and have done for years, run a truck from wherever they purchase asphalt to over a mile out Waverly Road to patch one hole. Completely ignoring many other potholes they drive right by. I don't call this cost effective. With all the traffic on this road, and with some serious potholes, and with campers, boats and utility trailers being hauled on a daily basis someone is going to get seriously hurt someday.
Here's my question, with all the money being paid in taxes on Waverly Road: campsites, residences and business, what are they doing with the money? Think about it. Ask your local representative when you see him.
Juanita Becker
Reno, Ohio
