The Wood County Commission this month has been hearing challenges to property values the county has assigned residences and businesses.

What it heard from a Wood County industrial firm Thursday wasn't as much a challenge as it was a correction.

Sabic Innovative Plastics says it has torn down several buildings at its Washington, West Virginia plant...meaning its property values have changed.

Sabic is at the site occupied first by Borg-Warner, then G.E. Plastics.
The commission, which meets as the board of review and equalization, is to issue its final decisions on assessed property values February 23.

Meanwhile, the Wood County library may not get its wish to have a levy placed on the May primary ballot.

Library director Brian Raitz asked the county commission for the levy this morning, citing the need for a new South Parkersburg library and recent funding cuts.

But there's concern that might add to an already crowded primary ballot.

"The city of Vienna and city of Parkersburg is going to have their bus levies on there, so we're going to have a pretty large ballot already," said County Clerk Jamie Six. "If this funding were to be needed on July first of this year, that would be one thing. But we just ask it would be postponed until November, so the ballot would be smaller for voters...less confusing."

Candidates for city, county and state offices...as well as the presidential race...are on the ballot for the Wood County May primary.
The commission has until next week for a final decision, but two of the three commissioners Thursday said they were opposed to putting the library issue on the primary ballot.

Last November, voters rejected a combined levy which would have provided funding for the library system, the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport, and the Veterans Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley.