|Photo by Joselyn King| Ohio County commissioners Randy Wharton, left, and Don Nickerson converse before the start of Tuesday's commission meeting.

WHEELING – Wheeling city employees won’t be back in their regular offices at the City-County Building until at least the end of January.

Melissa Marco, project coordinator for Ohio County, updated county commissioners on progress of the $12 million heating, ventilation and air conditioning project at the City-County Building during their meeting Tuesday night.

“I told the city hopefully they would be back in their offices by Jan. 8,” she said while pointing out photos of construction given to commissioners. “I think you can see that isn’t going to happen.

“I got an email from (city manager) Bob Herron, and he was very kind. He understands projects can run behind.”

The new target date is Jan. 27 for the employees to move back to their third-floor offices, Marco continued. Recent weeks have seen them working out of the former police station space on the first floor.

Assistant Wheeling City Manager Bill Lanham toured the city offices on Tuesday, and seemed pleased with the work thus far completed, according to Marco.

Marco said while county record books have been removed from the County Clerk’s Office with the help of county inmates, much of the shelving still remains there. She noted the inmates are expected back on Saturday to help take away the shelving.

The county record books – some of which date back to 1776 – are temporarily being stored at the former AT&T call center building at The Highlands.

Circuit Clerk Brenda Miller’s office on the fourth floor, meanwhile, has been moved down the hall into the swing space that was previously the law library.

While the ceiling is exposed on the fourth floor, some piping there will be replaced, Marco said.

Courtrooms used by Circuit Judges David Sims and Michael Olejasz on the fifth floor also are under construction, but only during the evenings so as not to disrupt court proceedings during the day.

“It doesn’t look great while they are holding trials, but at least they can conduct court,” Marco told commissioners.

What has been completed is the work on the stone columns on both porticos at the City-County Building. The pavers needed for the porticos will be put out to bid as early as next week, she said.

Sheriff Nelson Croft requested permission for the purchase of five new vehicles be put out to bid as soon as possible. Commissioners agreed to this so that the eventual purchase could be expedited.

Croft also reported there were no major vehicle collisions or serious issues dealt with by his department following this week’s snowfall.

Commissioners voted to reappoint County Administrator Randy Russell and Solicitor Don Tennant to their positions for 2025.

County offices will be closed Jan. 20 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The commissioners will next meet at 6 p.m. on Jan. 21 at the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St., Wheeling.