Wheeling Council Faces Change
Four to be sworn in at today’s meetBy CASEY JUNKINS Staff Writer
Article Photos
WHEELING - Today, Mayor-elect Andy McKenzie finally will be able to drop the "elect" from his title. So will Councilmen-elect Eugene Fahey, James Tiu and Don Atkinson.
The four will be formally sworn in as members of Wheeling City Council at 6:40 p.m. today in Council Chambers, immediately prior to their first meeting at 7:30 p.m.
The four new members will join returning Councilwoman Gloria Delbrugge, as well as Councilmen Vernon Seals and Robert "Herk" Henry, to form the new council.
And with concepts like Tax Increment Financing, the Wheeling 2020 Plan, home rule and reviewing and possibly changing the city charter facing them, it seems council members have a full plate of issues awaiting their attention.
McKenzie said he is very excited to serve as mayor of the Friendly City.
"I am looking forward to working with council and the city employees. There is an abundance of opportunity to do a lot of great things here," he said.
McKenzie said the idea of spending the $8 million in TIF to renovate the Capitol Music Hall and purchase a series of buildings in the 1100 block of Main and Market streets is something that council must consider thoroughly.
"We want to make sure this is the right direction to take," he said of the plan developed and approved by the current council, which included outgoing Mayor Nick Sparachane, Vice Mayor Mike Nau and members Barry Crow and Brent Bush.
In terms of the operating the Capitol, McKenzie said there may be a group of private investors willing to purchase the venue to receive federal tax credits.
"This is one of the options," he said of the potential private investment.
As for the Wheeling 2020 Plan for downtown, McKenzie said "there are good components and parts that can be implemented." McKenzie said he is organizing a group of citizens and interested parties to study how the city can be improved.
"The city charter review is one of the items this group will look at," he said.
Though he is not sure the city should impose registration fees on the owners of vacant buildings through state-granted home rule, McKenzie knows dilapidated structures must be addressed.
"The idea of imposing fees is one tool that could be used," he said.
Fahey, who has been appointed to serve as vice mayor, does not believe the city should jump into the latest TIF project because he wants to make sure the Stone Center and Lowe's TIF projects have fulfilled their potential.
The vice mayor also wants a private investor to buy the Capitol, but said he would be open to the idea of spending city funds to acquire the theater. Fahey is also open to the idea of a charter review.
"We need to look at how things work, and we have to discuss how we can make things work better," he said.
Fahey noted he does not support imposing fees on the owners of vacant buildings just because the buildings are vacant; instead he said buildings that are not well-maintained must be addressed.
Tiu said the 2020 Plan has many positive attributes.
"It is possible to imagine a downtown with a healthy mix of commercial uses - medical offices, legal and professional services, as well as reasonable access to entertainment, arts and tourism, with information technology as its basis," he said.
Tiu believes any changes to the city charter must be made in the interest of the citizens.
"The ability of the citizens to petition for a majority vote for passage or repeal of an ordinance is an important power, and changes to the charter - should there be any - should preserve the citizens' ability to propose, pass, or repeal an ordinance by petition and majority vote," he said.
As for home rule, Tiu wants to make sure the focus is on removing slum and blight.
"Any legislation that council drafts ... to formalize these revitalization tactics should be limited in scope to removal of slum and blight properties from our downtown," he said.
Atkinson believes some buildings in the 1100 block need to be demolished with TIF funding.
"Some of them will come down. I have gone through the old (G.C.) Murphy's building and (the former) Rite Aid. We still have to really look at all of these and think this whole thing through," he said.
Atkinson said it is important to focus on the Capitol, WesBanco Arena and the Heritage Port as part of the 2020 Plan.
"You need to have some kind of a plan to deal with these things," he said.
In terms of home rule powers, Atkinson wants to take the necessary steps to eliminate dilapidated buildings.
"I don't think we should impose fees for buildings that are just vacant, but we should impose them for buildings that are dilapidated," he said.
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thedub
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07-03-08 11:46 AM
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atoddh - Actually, the GOC houses ALL of Orrick's IT, it is the company's headquarters for their Information Technology. Also, their marketing, accounting, and HR departments are HQ'd in this building. This is known from experience.
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E2Driver
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07-02-08 6:10 AM
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Once again atoddh,apples and oranges.
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atoddh
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07-01-08 11:01 PM
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EZ: The proposed demolitions should be carefully considered as the projects that have worked have been adaptive reuse ones. David McKinley's places are beautiful as is WVNCC and the Federal Building is World class.
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atoddh
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07-01-08 10:58 PM
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dub: The Wheeling Orrick operation is just a secretarial and accounting office - a "back office." They do some legal review work now.But it is not a law operation as are their main locations. The "Global" title is somewhat misleading. Wheeling is certainly not their headquarters - it is the "back office" & one step above an offshore outsourcing operation. Turani is essentially an office manager. They are in Wheeling because they received a free trendy building and they can get staff cheap.They benefit from a depressed local economy.
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E2Driver
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07-01-08 10:53 PM
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atoddh The things you say are not always wrong...but they are not always right either. While agree with some of your points, I disagree with others. I seriously think that Herron is a good city manager and I think the new council will work with him to better our fine city.
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E2Driver
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07-01-08 7:03 PM
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atoddh "Should Wheeling's older buildings be demolished or instead "moth balled" for future use as is done in other historical cities such as Galveston?" The buildings in question are not "heavy timber" construction. They are literally "caving in". I know this to be a FACT.You are comparing apples to oranges when you talk about the YMCA building, Orrick building, Main Street Bank building, Staleys, the old Wonder Bakery, the Old Georgian center etc. These were industrial buildings and were substansial in construction. The buildings in the plan uptown are NOT.
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wvforsale
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07-01-08 7:02 PM
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The best part...reason you have a new mayor...term limits!!!!!!!
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thedub
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07-01-08 5:30 PM
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atoddh - So it's just a coincidence that Turani runs the GOC then? Not to down him, but you would think that a company such as theirs would bring in someone more experienced in running something on that large of a scale, from a larger city, like Pittsburgh. I've heard too many stories to believe that a partner is from WV and they loved the building. Lower op costs, yes, taxes lower or null, yes, but the other BS, I just don't believe. Too many "old style" politicos in Wheeling for that.
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atoddh
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07-01-08 5:14 PM
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the dub:Orrick came because one of their principals was from Wheeling. And because it is a highly depressed area where they can operate for much less than in any major city - and certainly SanFrancisco.Note that they were also attracted to the inovative adaptive reuse of the antique Stamping building that was offered. So lower operating costs and an old building -redone -(not empty space) were the draws. Should Wheeling's older buildings be demolished or instead "moth balled" for future use as is done in other historical cities such as Galveston?
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thedub
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07-01-08 3:37 PM
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I agree Driver - there is some expansion in the downtown area, but there will have to be more than just the Orrick GOC and their ex-subsidiary Williams Lea. The only reason that they came and were allowed to be downtown is because the past cronies got their hands in on it. Hopefully now that some of the "you scratch mine, I'll scratch yours" mentality is gone, more of these companies will be enticed to relocate to Wheeling.
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acousticportal
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07-01-08 1:19 PM
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Which one is Schemp?
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Katabatic
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07-01-08 12:55 PM
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atoddh has it right. Prayers for our leaders for good success and healthy change for the best. Wheeling can be turned around.
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E2Driver
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07-01-08 10:59 AM
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"It is possible to imagine a downtown with a healthy mix of commercial uses - medical offices, legal and professional services, as well as reasonable access to entertainment, arts and tourism, with information technology as its basis" This has been going on in downtown. Tear down the collapsed buildings and more will come.
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PCGS701
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07-01-08 10:51 AM
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Wow I just looked at the pictures of the three guys. Looks like Larry, Moe and Curly of the Three Stooges. Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk
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PCGS701
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07-01-08 10:47 AM
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Dittos to what joesr66 said. And look at all the vacant lots on the Island the city wants to confiscate with the Home Rule, Home Law, TIF or TUFF whatever they call it. They are trying to recruit more people to cut grass on these vacant lots before they condem the Dinner Bell and tear the burned out vacant buildings down on the Market Plaza.
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joesr66
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07-01-08 7:29 AM
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Don't forget now the City owns some of these so called building were talking about and one is the Tom's Pizza shop they had it for over a few years and haven't done one thing to improve it in any way shape or form. Then they torn down the Leeds building and created a empty lots and there isn't even any grass on it now what did that accomplished other than a empty lot. How many other pieces of property has the City got their greedy hands on and doing nothing.Another one I overlooked was the Green Door on Main Street and what plans has the City got for that one?The city is a slum landlord who trying to tell the people how they are suppose to maintain their property.Now that what you call Leadership.
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thedub
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07-01-08 7:25 AM
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"It is possible to imagine a downtown with a healthy mix of commercial uses - medical offices, legal and professional services, as well as reasonable access to entertainment, arts and tourism, with information technology as its basis" Wow - this is why I voted for the guy... finally somebody thinks of bringing businesses other than RETAIL to Wheeling.
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atoddh
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07-01-08 1:36 AM
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A new era of rational thought & honesty seems to be dawning at City Hall!
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