Construction Trades Stay Busy With Projects in Wheeling and Around Ohio County
A sports complex at The Highlands, a proposed parking garage for downtown Wheeling and improvements to all Ohio County public schools could keep local construction trades busy in the coming months.
Government officials provided updates on upcoming development projects during the Winter 2019 Networking Luncheon Tuesday at Undo's Restaurant in Elm Grove, sponsored by Project BEST.
Among those speaking were Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, Ohio County Administrator Greg Stewart and Ohio County Board of Education President Zach Abraham.
Kicking Off The Ohio County Sports Complex
Stewart began his presentation by showing a short video offering a virtual tour of the planned county-owned sports complex at The Highlands. Steel framing already is in place for the structure, which will encompass 200,000 square feet.
The facility will be big enough to house an indoor football field with a 65-foot high ceiling. Ceilings must be at 75 feet to meet regulation required for professional punting, Stewart explained.
"We'll be close to that," he said.
The field will have the ability to be converted into four soccer fields, he said. There also will be six sports courts in the building, as well as a fitness center.
Once indoor activities are in operation, the county will turn its attention to developing the outside area of the sports complex, which sits on 15 acres of land.
Exterior plans call for construction of outdoor playing fields, a walking trail and a possible zipline.
"It's about a $30 million project, and if we do everything we want to do on the outside about $40 million," Stewart said. "If this all goes well, we'll think about adding the outdoor elements to bring in the travel tournaments."
Stewart expects the facility's basketball components to be completed by the end of this year, with the football area completed early in 2020.
A Safety Building And A Parking Garage
Elliott spoke of the city's plan to fund a new public safety building through a $1 per week user fee that would be imposed on all those working in the city of Wheeling. A $22 million levy to construct the building failed in November despite getting 54 percent of the vote. Under state law, a 60 percent approval was needed.
Elliott said the user fee is what he favors as it "applies the burden to people who work in the city regardless of where they live."
"To be honest, nobody loves it, because nobody loves a new tax," Elliott said. "But there is almost a consensus that we have to do something … for our first responders."
The user fee has not yet come before Wheeling City Council.
Meanwhile, developers have plans to revitalize the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Building on Market Street into residential and retail space, and tenants and visitors will need a place to park, according to Elliott.
In response, the city is considering construction of a 550-space parking garage across the street from the building. This would represent a $12 million investment by the city, he said.
Education and Construction For The Future
Abraham thanked voters for passing the $42.2 million bond issue last May that will result in upgrades to all 13 school buildings.
He said the district will focus on "three prongs for improvement" while overseeing the construction projects -- infrastructure upgrades, a redesign of the curriculum and improvements to safety.
"Many of the schools are actually getting their entrances redone for the purpose of being safety conscience," Abraham said.
There are 5,222 students enrolled in Ohio County Schools this year, according to the West Virginia Department of Education, as well as about 700 employees, he said. The school district's annual budget is about $67 million.
The proposed ethane cracker plant in Belmont County and resulting businesses could bring about the need for local workers with new skill sets, Abraham said, and Ohio County Schools needs to be ready.
"In the next 10 years, this whole place is going to look completely different," Abraham said. "We understand that from the educational perspective. When we talk about educational redesign, we're accounting for some of that."
The school district is seeking to revamp its career and technical education programs, which could allow students to gain work experience in the trades while still in high school. Ohio County Schools will be seeking to partner with Project BEST, Abraham said.