* This article appeared in The Parkersburg News on Tuesday, July 24, 2007

By MICHAEL ERB, Staff Writer

WILLIAMSTOWN — Fenton Art Glass owes more than $230,000 in delinquent county taxes, according to county records.

Officials with the company said the back taxes are being addressed as part of the company’s restructuring effort.

Officials with the Wood County Sheriff’s Tax Office said the company owes $157,627.16 in personal property taxes and $72,535.38 in real estate taxes, a total of $230,162.54 due. The taxes represent fiscal year 2006 and do not include any current taxes owed by the company.

Taxes not paid by the state’s April 1 tax filing deadline are considered delinquent, and back-taxes not paid by April 30 each year are publicly listed as delinquent.

“We have already publicized that we are working on a restructuring” of the company, said George Fenton, president of Fenton Art Glass. “Cash has been utilized for more current needs, such as labor and material costs, and we are continuing to work on restructuring.”

Fenton said there were no plans this week to announce more details of the restructuring effort.

“Nothing specific at this time,” he said.

Officials with tax office said the business has until Nov. 13 to pay the real estate taxes owed or risk the property being put up for sale by the county. The personal property tax owed would be handled by the Wood County Assessor’s Office and the state.

County Assessor Steve Grimm could not be reached for comment Monday.

Officials with the 102-year-old Williamstown-based business announced last month they were looking at options for the future of the company. Citing poor sales and rising costs, officials said they hoped to keep the business open while looking for new investment opportunities and ways to cut costs. Officials also said the restructuring could involve sale of the company, which has been in the Fenton family since its creation.

The business employs 156 people, and officials have said they hope to avoid layoffs if suitable revenue streams can be found. The company has had several rounds of layoffs since 2001, but some employees have been rehired.