×

Wood commission holds meeting regarding Resiliency Center

(Photo by Brett Dunlap) Wood County Commissioners Robert Tebay, Jimmy Colombo and Blair Couch, along with Wood County Administrator Marty Seufer, discussed issues brought up last week about the Wood County Resiliency Center during Monday’s meeting.

PARKERSBURG — County officials said Monday they did their best in managing the needs of the community during recent cold temperatures, keeping in contact with emergency officials and while people searched to find someplace warm as people still had questions about why the Wood County Resiliency Center was not opened as a warming shelter during recent cold weather.

Around eight people appeared before the commission Monday to continue discussions started last Thursday when a group of around 20 citizens appeared before the commission to voice their displeasure and concerns relating to the new the center, saying it was a waste of money to build and it wasn’t being used for the purposes they said elected officials claimed it was built for.

The building, which will cost over $13 million, was funded through American Recovery Act funds. It addresses issues the county had during the pandemic and will be able to handle other concerns. The building was built on the site of the former Wood County Jail.

Initially, Commission President Blair Couch said there would not be any public comment Monday because the commission had a full agenda and invited people to get on the agenda at a future date to address their concerns and give officials a chance to be prepared. However, officials began addressing some of the concerns brought up last Thursday.

Couch invited Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard, Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department Executive Director Eric Walker and Assistant Wood County 911 Director Dale McEwuen to talk about what the need was to address some of the points brought up last week.

(Photo by Brett Dunlap) Taj Rohr stood up to speak at Monday’s meeting of the Wood County Commission. He and others were present to follow up on discussions that took place before the commission last Thursday regarding the new Wood County Resiliency Center.

Concerns were raised about the center not being opened up as a warming station for the area homeless during recent cold weather.

Officials said there were a number of places that were open as warming stations, offering shelter to people during temperatures that reached into the single digits and below zero.

Walker said they were helping to coordinate efforts if local warming shelters got full through their public information officer who would have put out word where people could go.

“No one contacted us to say they were over capacity for warming centers,” Walker said. “The plan was if that did happen we were going to help.”

Efforts were underway to set up a warming center at the Judge Black Annex, if one was needed. Officials said they could better manage access inside the building, allowing people space to get warm, but being able to lock doors to prevent them from having full access to the building.

“Again, we were not contacted saying there was a need for that so it didn’t happen,” Walker said.

Couch said the center was not designed to be a homeless shelter and in emergencies where people could be housed there, it would need to be with the help of a different agency to be able to manage an emergency response.

Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said there are people at some of these places who have criminal records and referred to an incident recently in Marietta where people were involved in illegal activities.

Woodyard said they have a total of 34 deputies across three shifts and they need to fill three positions.

“We don’t have spares to be babysitters,” Colombo said.

A lady who volunteered at Gathering Church in Parkersburg where a warming station was set up said they had 50 people and had no sheriff’s deputies and had no problems with the people there, but Colombo said they did elsewhere.

Woodyard said none of the emergency shelters that were set up were at or above capacity. Emergency officials said one of the shelters needed cots and emergency management was able to send them 10 to use.

Couch said the City of Parkersburg has a Homeless Coordinator and there was a Local Emergency Planning Commission, which he was told was made up of 20-25 people and invited those in attendance to volunteer to serve on that board.

Both Colombo and Couch acknowledged things were said at last Thursday’s meeting that they have received a lot of complaints about.

During last Thursday’s meeting, Colombo asked Roger Conley, who appeared to voice concerns about the Resiliency Center, if his hands were shaking because he was nervous to which Conley replied it was a medical condition and he could provide information from his doctor if the commission deemed it necessary.

Colombo said he was labeled as someone against people with medical conditions by others in the community. He said his restaurant has wheelchairs available and has employees who will help people inside if needed.

“To be labeled a person who is against the handicapped is outrageous,” Colombo said adding he and Conley have had disagreements in the past, but have “always walked away friends.” Colombo said he did not know Conley had a condition.

Conley was not present at Monday’s meeting.

Colombo passed out a sheet detailing a number of things the county commission has worked on for the community. The money for the center came from the federal government “with strict rules on how to spend it.”

“(After all the complaints), I don’t think they want us to tear down that building brick by brick,” he said.

Couch said he ended up saying some things he regretted in response to some of the people who appeared before the commission last Thursday.

“It started disrespectfully and it ended disrespectfully,” he said. “In speaking about my role as an elected representative, I misspoke in a way that would suggest that I only represent those who voted for me.

“That was not my intent and I sincerely regret confusion or concern my words caused. Let me be clear, my duty is to serve all constituents, regardless of political affiliation, background or belief. Public service is about listening, learning and working for the good of everyone. I take that responsibility seriously and have for 18 years and I am committed to making sure every voice is heard and valued.”

Both Couch and Colombo said they have received threats online as a result against themselves and Couch said some included him as well as members of his family. Those have been passed to law enforcement.

Woodyard said if people have any questions, they can call on him or come down to his office and talk to him about it.

“Transparency and openness will go a long way,” said Taj Rohr, one of the people voicing concerns about the center.

Rohr, who works locally as a financial adviser, presented the commission with a FOIA request. Conley had presented a FOIA last week regarding aspects of the Resiliency Center.

Rohr’s FOIA requested copy of the Wood County employee Code of Conduct; Employees Code of Ethics; the list of committees each commissioner is assigned to; each commissioner’s meeting attendance for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; records of reimbursed expenses for all three commissioners as well as the County Administrator for years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; a list of county government issued emails and other emails officials use to conduct county business as well as text numbers since 2020; written correspondence of each commissioner since 2020; copies of all approved meeting minutes for 2023, 2024 and 2025; and audio recordings for all meetings for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025.

County officials have five days to respond.

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today