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Wheeling City Council is expected to initiate action tonight to transfer $2 million to West Virginia University Health System for economic redevelopment of the former Ohio Valley Medical Center site.
The city of Wheeling is contributing $2 million toward the demolition of seven remaining buildings on the vacant OVMC campus. Ohio County is expected to kick in an additional $2 million and WVU Medicine will provide $3 million for asbestos abatement and demolition of the hospital buildings. WVU Health System is expected to construct a new regional cancer center on the site after the buildings are removed.
Last month, officials from WVU Medicine selected New Jersey firm F.R. Beinke Wrecking Inc. to head the asbestos abatement and demolition of the structures on the Center Wheeling site. A bid of around $6.988 million was submitted for the work by F.R. Beinke Wrecking Inc.
A formal protest and lawsuit was filed by Raze International of Shadyside, which has asserted that the local company submitted the lowest and best bid for the major project.
Tonight, members of Wheeling City Council are scheduled to hear a first reading on an ordinance authorizing the city manager to transfer $2 million to WVU Health System for economic redevelopment purposes at the former OVMC site. The funds will be charged to the city's Project Fund.
According to the new legislation, transferring these funds for site redevelopment and establishment of a new regional cancer center is in the best interest of the city and the community. The ordinance noted that Wheeling City Council on Oct. 20 of last year unanimously authorized the city manager to negotiated and execute a letter of intent for the purpose of redevelopment and future utilization of the former OVMC campus, which the city acquired after the hospital permanently closed its doors in the fall of 2019 after many decades of service to the community.
Tonight's council meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at the City-County Building on Chapline Street downtown.
Also on tonight's agenda is a new ordinance establishing a service fee for credit card and other electronic payments of water and sewer utility bills issued by the city.
According to the ordinance, the city finds it "advisable and necessary" to revise its current water and sewer tariffs to include a provision to allow the city to recoup the fee charged by financial institutions for processing these payments.
"A service charge will be imposed on credit card or other electronic payments," according to the proposal. "The amount shall be equal to the actual charges to the utility from the financial institution for processing payment."
In other action slated for this evening, a first reading is scheduled on new legislation to spend $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds with Evolve of Pittsburgh to help spearhead the city's 10-year Comprehensive Plan update.
Also tonight, first readings on new ordinances are expected to establish handicap parking at meters on 12th Street and to establish a loading zone in front of 129-18th St.