TEAYS VALLEY, W.Va. — Two of five members of the Putnam County Zoning Appeals Board have recused themselves from next month’s vote on a proposed Walmart.
Duke Jordan of Great Expectations Realty, and Jared Tully, a lawyer with Frost Brown Todd, decided not to vote on the controversial project because of professional conflicts of interests.
The Walmart “Neighborhood Market” proposed for construction on Route 34 in Teays Valley has been contested by residents who fear added traffic congestion to what they claim is already a busy area. Walmart said the 43,000-square-foot center would be no larger than the average grocery store.
Three other original board members—Patricia Schiffour, Stephen Sluss and Allen Ruebush—are left to vote, along with potential replacements Tony Hodge and Jessie Parker.
“Folks who wrote the Putnam County ordinance were pretty smart, because they have alternate members,” said Tom Susman of TSG Consulting, which is working with the “Keep the Promise Coalition” to fight the Walmart.
Jordan told the Charleston Gazette he recused himself because his ownership of local real estate could lead to the appearance he benefited indirectly from his vote.
While appreciative of Tully and Jordan’s recusals, Susman said he didn’t think their absences would change the voting outcome. He claimed the vote’s postponement from this week until June 16 helped the opposition’s cause.
“It gives us more time to generate support for our position, and it gives time to further detail our comments so that they’re more on point with the ordinance,” Susman said.