Wheeling city council honors WPHS students; approves 2024-25 budget
The WPHS speech and debate team and girls varsity basketball team were honored for their state championship titles. The council also approved a $35 million budget for fiscal year 2024-25
The city of Wheeling’s Development Committee, Finance Committee, and city council met Tuesday, March 19, for two hours to discuss several ordinances, the monthly financial report, and to honor a local high school for their statewide championships.
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Members of the Development Committee and other members of council were updated on Phase 1 of “Wheeling Forward 2034,” the 10-year Comprehensive Plan for the city of Wheeling. Ashley Cox, Senior Project Manager for evolveEA, delivered the presentation.
This reporter was unable to attend the first half of this meeting due to a prior engagement.
Cox provided data related to an investigation their firm conducted regarding the city of Wheeling’s strengths and weaknesses as the city develops its state-mandated comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan will “make recommendations on land use” in the city and “guide growth and development” during a 10-year period, according to the city’s landing page for the project.
In that report, data suggests that “younger families and workforce is relatively stable,” despite the city having a higher share of households with people 65 years or over as compared to the national average.
The report investigated employment opportunities in Wheeling, identifying the city as the hub for the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area. That data suggests West Virginia University Medicine and Ohio County Schools are the top two employers for the city. Further, 30% of available jobs in the city offer wages below a “living wage.”
Of the available jobs in the area, those with the highest wages require a four-year degree. Cox stated that those without a college education have a “tough time” obtaining jobs with living wages.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Members of the Finance Committee and other members of council were updated on the status of the city’s budget, expenditures, and income, by city manager Robert Herron. Chair Dave Palmer was absent for the meeting.
Herron reported an increase in the general fund, currently at $2.8 million, as compared to this same time in 2023, 2022, and 2021. Revenues were ahead $500,000 as compared to last year, and expenditures are 64% of the year which is on track as the city is two-thirds through its fiscal year.
The city’s largest revenue source, the Business and Occupation tax is at 78% for the year, showing an increase in property and sales taxes as compared to last year.
CITY COUNCIL
Councilor Dave Palmer, Ward 4, was absent.
During the mayor’s report, Mayor Glenn Elliott honored two groups of students from Wheeling Park High School: the speech and debate team and the girls varsity basketball team.
The WPHS speech and debate Team traveled to West Virginia University on March 9 to compete in the WV Speech and Debate Association’s State Championship, where they won their 44th consecutive state title.
The WPHS girls varsity basketball team traveled to Charleston to compete in the WVSSAC 2024 basketball championship on March 5. On March 9, the team defeated Morgantown High School 65-51 to become this year’s state champions.
Mayor Elliott nominated, and council approved, Dennis Wilson and Natalie Hamilton to sit on the Wheeling Housing Authority Board.
During the city manager’s report, Robert Herron informed the council of a proposal by the West Virginia Division of Highways to update the Streetscape project to include the construction and enlargement of the sewer system on Main Street. The request would see the pipes used to divert storm water increase in size from 18 inches to 24 inches. The majority of costs would be covered by the WVDOH, but a request for a $75,000 contribution by the city was requested. Council approved this expenditure later in the meeting.
Herron stated that landscaping of Main Street would take six weeks to complete beginning on April 11. The project includes adding trees, shrubs, and other plant material to the newly constructed rain gardens in anticipation of street paving to begin in June.
At the conclusion of the city manager’s report, Herron stated an agreement had been reached between the city and the Army Reserve, facilitated by the offices of Senator Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, to transfer ownership of a facility in the Clator neighborhood to the city of Wheeling. The site will host the Wheeling Fire Department’s administration while their headquarters are constructed. After the WFD headquarters are opened, the facility will provide the department with an indoor maintenance facility for their vehicles.
Members of council delivered remarks during the city council meeting.
Councilor Jerry Sklavounakis, Ward 4, thanked the West Virginia Treasurer’s Office for working with his constituents to access unclaimed property. Treasurer Riley Moore, who is seeking his party’s nomination for West Virginia's Second Congressional District, launched the free program last year as unclaimed property in the state soared to a record $20 million.
Councilor Rosemary Ketchum, Ward 3, congratulated Wood Fired Pizza Co. for their ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the business’s grand opening at Waterfront Hall last month. Ketchum also announced the South Wheeling Preservation Alliance meeting to be held on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church, and the organization of a new group known as the Wheeling Creek Watershed Alliance.
Councilor Ben Seidler, Ward 2, thanked members of council, city administration, and the city clerk for organizing the “Love Your Neighborhood” campaign. The project, launched in 2021, offers residents the chance to apply for grants to beautify their neighborhoods. The deadline for this year’s grant program is June 30.
Seidler also announced several litter cleanup events in his Ward. Fulton will hold an event on April 20, meeting at 8:00 a.m. Wheeling Island will hold an event on April 27 beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Abbey’s Restaurant and Lounge. North Wheeling will hold an event on May 4 at 8:00 a.m. Residents of these neighborhoods are encouraged to volunteer.
Mayor Glenn Elliott announced the Spring Cleanup event, hosted by the Ohio County Solid Waste Authority, beginning on March 22 in Garden Park. Flyers about the event are available at the city clerk’s office.
The council adopted 10 new ordinances at their Tuesday meeting, including:
An amended ordinance designating the west side of Water Street in downtown Wheeling as a short term, two-hour parking zone, adding 18 parking spaces at the request of Waterfront Hall business owner Dan Mileson. The council rejected a proposal to alter the traffic pattern to a one-way street;
A $146,000 contract, funded through a WV Department of Environmental Protection loan, with Environmental Standards, doing business as Montrose, of Wheeling, WV, for site assessment of the 56-58 19th Street brownfield;
An agreement with Urban Design Ventures, LLC, of Homestead, PA, for professional services related to the federal Housing and Urban Development CDBG grant program;
A property lien in the amount of $11,300 for 315 S. York St, whose last known owner is Carlos Leeper, to cover the cost of demolishing the structure;
A $245,850 contract with Savage Construction Company of Wheeling, to be charged to ARPA, for improvements to the 36th Street, Clator, and Elm Terrace playgrounds;
A resolution to designate 2207 Market St as a redevelopment site for a proposed ramen restaurant known as “Wheeling Noods Ramen Bar;”
A resolution to facilitate the 2024 ‘Love Your Neighborhood’ mini-grant program;
A resolution approving the proposed general budget of $38.5 million;
A resolution approving the Coal Severance budget;
A resolution approving $75,000 in funding, to be paid by ARPA, to assist the WVDOH in their plan to increase the size of the Main St storm sewer line.
The council entered a brief executive session to discuss ‘property acquisition.’ No decision was made at the conclusion of their conversation.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. City council will meet again on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.