Concrete Panel Falls From Wheeling Island Stadium
Engineers are expected to be on scene today
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WHEELING -- Structural engineers should arrive today to advise Ohio County Schools officials in the ongoing efforts to repair the seating area on the west side of Wheeling Island Stadium.
On Monday, Superintendent Kim Miller and others were thankful no one was hurt when one of the concrete panels at the top of the stadium crashed to the ground unexpectedly. The concrete smashed through the fence that surrounds the stadium, although the slab did not disintegrate on impact.
Contractors were trying to pull down the panel they found damaged on Friday for examination to determine the problem. However, the adjacent panel promptly tumbled to the ground as soon as the crane lifted the original from its place.
Miller and others are now left scrambling to fix the stadium.
"We did not anticipate the second one falling that quickly, but in fact it did. We are going to have structural engineers come out and take a look at that so we can come with a solution, and determine what caused it," she said.
Later, Ohio County Schools spokesman Gabe Wells clarified the school did not have a structural engineer at the stadium during the Monday demolition work.
"There were no structural engineers on site today. We were advised by engineers during the process," Wells said.
Wells said Cattrell Companies Inc. used a crane provided by Savage Construction to perform the panel removal. Neither company's officials could be reached for comment Monday.
The top of the seating section at the stadium features a series of concrete panels that stretch from north to south, end zone to end zone. After both panels came to the ground Monday, a small crack could be seen in a third panel situated to the north.
After both panels came to the ground, Miller said the school did not plan to remove any more of them at the time.
"We have to wait for the engineers to take a look at this. If it is their suggestion, we will do whatever they tell us to do," Miller said.
Wells said engineers with M&G Architects & Engineers should be at the stadium today. The company's listed address is 1027 Mount de Chantal Road. A woman who answered the phone at the office Monday deferred all questions to Ohio County Schools.
At this point, there is no estimate of how much this damage will cost the taxpayers of Ohio County, nor is it known how long it will take to repair the stadium.
New figures show the assessed value for all property in Ohio County is down $91 million from last year, which would mean a $1.7-million reduction in revenue for the school district in the coming fiscal year under the current levy rate. Last month, board of education members voted to set a preliminary levy tax rate for the next fiscal year of 95.5 percent of the maximum allowed by state law, up from 94.5 percent for the current year.
Board members are expected to set a final levy rate during a meeting at 8 a.m. today.
Miller said the school district has insurance on its facilities, but did not know how much this would help with the stadium issue.
Wells said McKeen Security was at the stadium Monday night to make sure no one entered the area. Wheeling Deputy Police Chief Martin Kimball said South Penn Street from Stone Street to Fink Street will remain closed to both pedestrians and motorists until further notice. Fink Street is now two-way for residential access.
"It is the school board's problem," Kimball said of securing the area. "We are helping them as best we can."