PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – Parkersburg City Council denied the appeal from a local business owner to obtain a business license.
Business owner Ari Gold applied for a business license for his business TrueForce Machinery, LLC with the city of Parkersburg on Aug. 1, 2025.
Gold mentioned during the hearing he had waited 90 days for an update on the status of his application.
He filed a lawsuit against the City of Parkersburg to force them to make a decision within a certain timeframe. Because the city did not have the necessary information to approve Gold’s business license, the application was denied.
Gold felt he did provide the necessary information and acted on Article 701.19 of the city’s codified ordinances, which states “any person feeling aggrieved by the decision of the City Clerk in refusing to issue any license provided for in Chapter One of this Business and Taxation Code, in the amount of the fee assessed therefor or in any other respect, may, within thirty days from the date of such decision, file a written petition with Council to review such decision.”
During the hearing, Gold claimed the application shouldn’t have been denied because he followed all of the rules.
“But it’s very hard to do it when I comply with everything and I follow the law to the word, but then somebody comes over and tries to put sticks in my wheels to block it from happening. All I want is my business license,” said Gold.
The defense was represented by attorney Ryan Simonton.
The city said Gold did not include all of the necessary information in his application, such as a copy of his West Virginia business license, whether his business moved from another location, if he was renting space within his location, was selling alcohol, had vending machines or pool tables in his business, and more.
Gold claims that the city has to give him a business license because he had operated his business TrueForce Machinery prior to obtaining one while quoting Article 701.15, saying if the department of finance finds out a business is operating without a license, the department shall issue a license to collect the amount of the fee due.
However, the defense stated that Ari’s statement put the cart before the horse because he has been paying taxes.
“Due to some ongoing litigation, the city was ordered to either approve or refuse the business license within a set time period. So, because the city did not have the information required, it had to refuse the license that’s consistent with 701.05 of the city code,” said Simonton.
Three witnesses were called to testify: Director of Finance Eric Jiles, Heidi Jones with the Finance Department, and Chief Code Official Andy Nestor.
Jiles and Jones both confirmed Gold did not submit the necessary paperwork needed to issue a business license.
After the council’s executive session to discuss the findings, Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl filed a motion to deny Gold’s appeal which was seconded by Councilman Roger Brown.
Councilman Dave McCrady and Council President Andrew Borkowski both voted to deny while councilmen Wendy Tuck and Zak Huffman voted to approve Gold’s appeal.
Borkowski said the appeal was denied because the appeal was not necessary.
“So, the reason for the denial is based on the letter sent outlining factors for the denial that can easily be remedied. So, if Mr. Gold wants to obtain the business license, he can very easily remedy those items outlined to obtain his business license,” said Borkowski.
Despite the appeal being denied, Gold can still reapply with the information requested during the meeting.
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