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WHEELING -- City Council approved a number of street resurfacing projects across Wheeling at its meeting Tuesday.
Members voted 6-1 to approve spending just over $600,000 for paving work on 23 sections of streets across the city. Councilwoman Wendy Scatterday voted against the measure.
"The street resurfacing in various areas of the city is in line with council's commitment to infrastructure improvements and the goal to better our neighborhoods," Mayor Glenn Elliott said. "Council is very aware of the need for paving our city streets and we look forward to moving ahead with this project."
The city will pay contractor Cast and Baker Corporation of Canonsburg, Pa., to complete the work later this year. City Manager Robert Herron said that work will hopefully begin in late summer or fall.
"It's being contracted, and it is going to be weather dependent as we move further into the fall," Herron said. "We feel as though we can complete this work this fall. It depends on the contractor, but there is a high likelihood all the work will be done this fall."
Also at Tuesday's meeting, council received a letter from Jeanne Finstein, president of Friends of Wheeling, regarding the closed-to-traffic Wheeling Suspension Bridge. Jay Frey, vice president, read the letter to the body.
Finstein, on behalf of the organization, requested that Wheeling form a task force to consider options for the future of the bridge. She also asked that the bridge remain closed to traffic until better enforcement is in place.
"Continued abuse from overweight vehicles … have put the bridge in great jeopardy," Finstein said. "Options might include permanent closure to vehicles, installation of weight scales or other monitoring mechanisms ... and significantly increasing and enforcing fines for abuse."
Elliott said that the city is considering short-term options with the West Virginia Division of Highways. He noted that closing the bridge to vehicles permanently could take the bridge off of the state funding list.
"Wheeling is not in a position to upkeep the bridge," Elliott said. "We're looking at it holistically and I think everyone on council feels the bridge is a unique treasure we have to protect."
Council approved two proclamations issued by Vice Mayor Chad Thalman on behalf of Elliott, who had originally planned not to attend the meeting. Thalman named Tuesday Relay for Life Day and Aug. 4-10 Warwood Farmers Market Week.
Council also heard from Owens Brown, president of the West Virginia NAACP, who thanked council its support on this summer's Juneteenth Celebration. Brown also spoke on racism and violence in the United States following the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday.
Brown said that Ku Klux Klan materials appeared in Marshall County and Follansbee in recent weeks, calling it "ironic" that they appeared following President Donald Trump's visit to Wheeling. He further called on council and other Northern Panhandle leaders to condemn racism and violence.
"I believe it's my moral obligation to speak to the imminent danger of our community. Racism is a dying animal that's been wounded, and it's time for the heroes to take the stage and speak truth to power," Brown said. "I believe Wheeling City Council should take the lead in condemning violence. If council stands up, others will follow lead in speaking out."
In other matters, council approved two facade improvement grants, money to be used to improve downtown buildings' exteriors. The grants included $10,160 for 2206-2208 Market St. and $15,000 for 1213 Market St.
The body also heard first readings on spending ordinances for upgrades to Jenson Playground basketball court and a slip repair on Glenhite Avenue.
Street sections to be resurfaced in 2019
*North 26th Street from W.Va. 2 to Vance Avenue
*Warwood Terrace as marked
*North 15th Street from W.Va. 2 to end
*North 10th Street from W.Va. 2 to Richland Avenue
*Owl Court from Eagle Avenue to end
*Wren Court from Eagle Avenue to end
*15th Street from Chapline Street to Eoff Street
*Chapline Street from 27th Street to 29th Street
*28th STreet from Chapline Street to Eoff Street
*Carmel Road from Seibert Street to Carmel Road
*Fieldcrest Drive from Oakmont Road to new pavement
*Highland Park from Lincoln Drive to end
*Highland Lane from Lincoln Drive to end
*Springdale Avenue from Louisa Avenue to Decatur Avenue
*Lumbar Avenue from Schilling Bridge to Hickory Street
*Hickory Street from Lumbar Avenue to Overbrook Avenue
*Junior Avenue from W.Va. 40 to W.Va. 88
*Acosta Avenue from Kruger Street to Legion Avenue
*Center Avenue from Kruger Street to Key Avenue
*Marshall Avenue from Kruger Street to Parker Avenue
*Kruger Street from Marshall Avenue to Sycamore Avenue
*Paxton Avenue from Rhine Street to Howell Lane
*Rhine Street from Patterson Street to Sycamore Avenue