City Bonuses on Agenda
Downtown block demolition also to be consideredBy CASEY JUNKINS
Article Photos
Fact Box
THE NEXT MEETING
= Wheeling City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in City Council Chambers on the
second floor of the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St.
A resolution to provide $400 bonuses to 407 city employees and ordinances to repair and demolish buildings in the 1100 block of Main Street are among the issues City Council will consider Tuesday.
During a Dec. 15 meeting of the city's finance committee, members Vice Mayor Eugene Fahey, Councilman Vernon Seals and Councilman James Tiu voted unanimously to spend $162,800 in taxpayers' money to fund the bonuses. But the money will not be distributed unless the full City Council approves a budget revision resolution.
West Virginia Managing Deputy Attorney General Silas Taylor is concerned that the bonuses may not be legal because he believes the state Constitution prohibits city employees from receiving extra compensation after performing the work they were contracted to do.
As for the buildings in the 1100 block of Main Street, the city in September issued $715,000 in Tax Increment Financing bonds to fund the recent purchase of the former Rite Aid building, former G.C. Murphy building and former River City Dance Works buildings.
Now, council will consider an ordinance to spend $25,000 worth of excess TIF funding with Erb Electric for "emergency electrical work" at the River City Dance Works building,1122 Main St.
City Manager Robert Herron said the electrical service lines leading into the building were in need of repair.
Before acquiring the other 1100 block buildings, city leaders purchased the former Downtown Wheeling Antiques building, 1120 Main St., with $20,000 in Community Development Block Grant money. Now, council will consider an ordinance to spend $67,780 in CDBG money with Edgco Inc. to demolish the building.
Herron said demolition of the Downtown Wheeling Antiques building is already under way.
According to the ordinances, both Erb Electric and Edgco Inc. were hired to perform "emergency" work on these buildings. No other work bids were received.
City officials continue to explore development options for these buildings in the 1100 block.
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ConservativeKaty
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01-05-09 10:59 PM
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It is fitting that Wheeling will consider the resolution of holiday bonuses to its employees on January 6, or Three Kings Day – The Coming of the Magi bearing gifts – in the Christian religion. The word “epiphany” is also associated with this, and it is the source for why Christians give gifts at this time of year. Salvation comes to the kings who give. Certainly the kings of this newspaper gave a token Christmas bonus, because the bonus is not really to those who receive but to those who give, however modestly, from their riches. It is a token to the Lord – a Lord loudly proclaimed in so many fine editorials just a few days ago. This is a day when conservatives are liberal – not to others, really, but for themselves, for their very souls, and for the Kingdom of God. Here’s to all wise men, to all kings who guard our Christian values, to the modern-day Magi – with epiphanies every day in Wheeling, at this paper, and the world over.
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WVEXPAT
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01-05-09 8:27 PM
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I always wondered why it's called the "Employee Free Choice Act"? Eliminating a private ballot in favor of a "public" card signing doesn't seem to have much to do w/ free choice!
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wv26003
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01-05-09 5:28 PM
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Let me guess, Mike, you gave your employees a $50 Kroger gift card like you used to do??? The Employee Free Choice Act --- coming to a newspaper office near you!
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Rockledge
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01-05-09 5:26 PM
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If employee retention is an issue, CofW needs to pay bonuses to those at risk of going elswhere and presumably the most qualified. If we are just tossing out cash because we got some to spare --- no commercial enterprise would last long w/that philosophy. Maybe we're shipping them some cash because they are all VOTERS.
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wv26003
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01-05-09 3:15 PM
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Did the employees of the News-Register and Intel receive a Christmas bonus?
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topofthehill
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01-05-09 12:31 PM
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It is very very hard to understand that the City..in the midst of the severe economic crisis...is going to pay a "BONUS" to City workers, no matter what the reason. If there are some excess funds...GREAT!! It seems they all need to take some Econ 101. I can see the headlines in the not too distant future..."OOPS! We need a tax increase!" What are they thinking?
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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01-05-09 11:40 AM
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I like the "emergency work" maneuver. MANY times this is envoked when a true "emergency" does not even exist. This is done to eliminate the bidding process. MANY times in the local area this has been done in order to reward work to the contractor who has greased the right palms. I have seen this done in several local counties. Local counties have even ORDERED two way radios under this so-called "emergency" protocol! Costing local taxpayers HUNDREDS of thousands in UNNECESSARY expenses! It is a loophole that needs ELIMINATED!
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GETACLUE
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01-05-09 8:42 AM
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tmoore.... there is no plan to tear down the dance works bldg..... READING IS FUNDAMENTAL!!!!!
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tmoore
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01-05-09 8:03 AM
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Put in new lines to a building they are destroying????mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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