×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Wheeling Residents Have a $22M Decision To Make Today

File Photo Pictured is an architect’s rendering of the public safety building Wheeling officials plan to build if voters approve a $22 million levy today.

WHEELING — If a $22 million public safety levy passes today in Wheeling, city voters will see the levy on the ballot again in five years — and for a third time in 2028.

Today is Election Day. Polls in West Virginia and Ohio open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

The public safety levy going before Wheeling voters would supply funds to construct a building on Market Street across from the Market Street Plaza. The new building would house the headquarters for the city’s fire and police departments. More than 60 percent of those who vote on the levy must approve it in order for the measure to pass.

While plans call for the public safety building to be financed for a 15-year period, municipalities cannot issue a levy for that length of time under West Virginia law. As a result, city officials decided to break it into three five-year periods.

The levy ordinance provides for the measure to come up for renewal in 2023 and again in 2028 if voters pass it today.

City Manager Robert Herron said city officials are ready to “hit the ground running” as soon as Wednesday if the levy is approved.

“City council is fully aware (of the state law),” Herron said. “If the levy passes, there will be two renewals. That’s why we sized it for 15 years.

“In the event the levy is not renewed (in either 2023 or 2028), the city still has to come up with the money,” he said. “That’s a subject we will deal with down the road if it passes (today) … That’s the risk everybody is aware of. We will have to find a way to pay the debt service.”

Mayor Glenn Elliott said if the levy passes today but voters would defeat it in the future, the city would need to finance the debt service on the public safety building from other revenue sources.

“One such revenue source that has been employed by other West Virginia cities is a user fee,” he said. “But ultimately, that would be a decision for the City Council in office in 2023 and/or 2028 to consider.”

If the levy passes today, a three-member Municipal Building Commission would have to be reinstituted in Wheeling with the authority to oversee the bonds. That could happen as soon as Wednesday, when council meets at noon, according to Herron.

The commission is provided for under Wheeling’s city charter, and Elliott would have to appoint the three members.

“We don’t have that commission filled, because we do not have any debt,” Herron explained.

He said the city would make lease payments plus interest on the bonds to the commission until the financial obligation is fulfilled.

In the short term, Herron said city officials already have interviewed engineering firms to work on the building. A decision on which would be hired could come at the Nov. 20 council meeting.

“We’re really keyed up,” Herron said. “If 60 percent plus one of the voters approve this project, they will be very proud with the result. It will greatly improve the environment for first responders, and it will be a great project for the city.”

The levy seeks $20 million for the construction of public safety building as well as an additional $1 million for renovations to the city’s five remaining fire stations and another $500,000 for a fire truck for the Warwood station.

Fire Station 2 in North Wheeling would be moved to the new building, and its currently facility would be sold. The five stations stations that would receive upgrades under the levy are those in South Wheeling, Warwood, Elm Grove, Woodsdale and Wheeling Island.

The levy is expected to cost a Wheeling homeowner $105 annually based on an average home value of $110,000 in the city. In addition, a vehicle valued at $20,000 would cost its owner an extra $38.31 a year under the levy.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today