File Photo The Wetzel-Tyler County Health Department, shown here in Paden City, plans to relocate to a future new building in New Martinsville.

Paden City Development Authority Director Cork Bowen explained to Paden City Council his efforts to try and keep the Wetzel-Tyler County Health Department in the city.

Bowen was asked about the health department during the April 7 City Council meeting. The health department currently is housed in a building owned by the development authority. The health department’s board announced recently that it planned to construct a new building in New Martinsville instead of staying in Paden City.

“I think it needs to get out, though it’s not a big secret. I’ve been heavily involved in this for two years,” he said.

Bowen said he offered to renovate the space the health department was currently using so it would stay. The renovation would have cost about $350,000. Both the Tyler and Wetzel county commissions said they could pledge a total of $1.5 million to the effort.

“With your pledge of $1.5 million we could make this the Taj Mahal, put an elevator in it, have everything that they would like. Pave the parking lot – everything,” Bowen said of his conversations with county officials.

But the board then decided it wanted a brand new building, he said.

Bowen said he then found seven lots available for sale in Paden City the board could have used for a new building, and the owner was willing to sell them.

But the board decided against it and chose New Martinsville instead. He noted the land to be used belongs to the methodist church in New Martinsville. A board member who belongs to the church’s board of directors abstained from voting. Another board member was absent and of the three remaining board members the vote was 2-1 in favor of moving to New Martinsville, he said.