Council Briefs: Slim summer agenda features traffic changes, street paving
The Wheeling City Council held its first meeting of the month Tuesday, Aug. 12, with a slim agenda. Changes to traffic rules and discussions of new paving projects highlighted the sprint of a meeting.
WHEELING — The Wheeling City Council met Tuesday, Aug. 12 to discuss a slim agenda — something that has become more typical than not during the summer months of session. With few agenda items to discuss, and even fewer questions asked or comments made by councilors, the sprint-style meeting ended roughly 20 minutes after it began.
Magruder offers his praise to various people, organizations…
During his report to council, Mayor Denny Magruder levied high praise on several people and organizations around the city for their work and achievements over the last few weeks.
The Wheeling Arts and Cultural Commission — a council nominated, voluntary board committed to supporting and promoting Wheeling’s arts and cultural communities — was recognized by the mayor for its third consecutive Arts Fest. Hosted earlier this month at Wheeling Park, the festival saw dozens of artists, creatives, writers, and community organizations table. The event also featured several musicians and food trucks.
Ohio Valley native Bruce Wheeler was acknowledged for the 24th annual Heritage Music BluesFest, which took place at Heritage Port over the weekend. Wheeler announced during the event that Waterfront Productions, a project by Waterfront Hall owner Dan Mileson, had purchased the festival and would organize it in 2026.
Magruder congratulated city staff and councilors who, during the West Virginia Municipal League’s 2025 conference in Morgantown, received an ‘All-Star Community Award.’ The award recognized the city’s support for its Love Your Neighborhood Mini Grant Program, an initiative adopted last year by council that earmarks funds to neighborhood-led projects. The funds have been used for community gardens and a welcome sign, among other beautification projects.
Roads to prosperity…
A theme now for many years, councilors heard of further paving projects throughout the city during their meeting. As well, changes to existing intersections were adopted at Tuesday’s meeting.
City Manager Robert Herron informed the council that paving on 12th Street between Main and Water streets would begin Aug. 25. The project was not originally included in the downtown streetscape project, but was added last year by a vote of council. As the streetscape project nears another year, completion is inching closer with many of the cross streets paved and half of Market Street resurfaced. Still, the city is likely to deal with several more months of work.
Herron also spoke briefly of an ordinance that saw its first reading Tuesday that could see 11th Street paved. The $32,899 contract with Cast and Baker of Canonsburg, Penn. seeks to resurface the small, one-block street where the federal courthouse and new Market Street parking structure is located. Herron described the work as the “final piece” to the multi-million dollar parking garage that has, since opening, sat with its three retail spaces vacant.
Councilors approved several traffic rules that could catch some residents by surprise.
Drivers heading west on Northern Parkway will no longer be able to turn right on red onto Route 2, a convenient link between the city’s North Park and Warwood neighborhoods. A new stop sign and no parking zone will be established at the corner of Walden Avenue and Knox Lane in the Woodsdale neighborhood. A four-way stop intersection and crosswalks will be installed at the intersection of 17th and Wood streets, near the soon-to-open Wheeling Fire Department Headquarters. And, a loading zone from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. will be established at 950 Main Street in front of the Bridge Tavern, restricting parking in the area during those times.
Ordinances Passed; Ordinances Proposed…
Councilors adopted a handful of ordinances and resolutions Tuesday, and heard the first readings of ordinance that they will consider at their next meeting. Ordinances and resolutions approved by councilors include:
$48,350 of American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds to James White Construction Co. of Weirton for Duquesne Avenue and Valley View Avenue sanitary sewer extensions;
$40,642.56 to Foster + Freeman of Ashburn, Va. for “evidence collection equipment” for the Wheeling Police Department, charged to the 2024 Justice Assistance Grant, or JAG, program;
$29,531.35 to American Solutions for Business of Chicago, Ill. for “e-citation systems,” charged to the Governor’s Highway Safety Grant program.
Four ordinances related to traffic rules as described above; and,
A resolution authorizing the city to accept the terms and conditions of a contract to maintain the Region 4 Highway Safety Program in the northern panhandle. The grant totals no more than $308,500.
Other ordinances proposed Tuesday that will be voted on at the next city council meeting include a contract expending $17,400 in ARPA funds for the emergency demolition of 113 Ohio Street, Greenwood sewer improvements also charged to ARPA, and the transfer of $165,000 to the Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority for “concreate [sic]” stair and landing replacement in at WesBanco Arena, among others.
Councilors will meet again on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
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