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WHEELING -- The city of Wheeling is expected to distribute more than $1 million in Community Development Block Grant Funds to various local entities this fiscal year.
On Tuesday, Wheeling City Council is scheduled to introduce nearly two dozen new pieces of legislation, many of which pertain to this year's CDBG program. One of the ordinances authorizes the city to enter into a grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the amount of $1,183,926 for this year's CDBG grant.
"This is our annual CDBG allocation," Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said on Sunday. "It is about five months late because of COVID. Usually this process happens in May."
Wheeling City Council will meet at noon on Tuesday in Council Chambers at the City-County Building. This will be the second meeting held in chambers with an audience since council officially returned to holding in-person meetings again during the pandemic.
Among the proposed ordinances being introduced for CDBG funding distributions is legislation to spend $40,895 with Play and Park Structures of Chattanooga, Tenn., for the Belle Island Playground. Other distributions for recreational use include $15,000 for operating expenses at the East Wheeling Pool, $33,000 for the Nelson Jordan Center for administration and supplies, and $4,500 for the YMCA to be used for membership and camp fees.
Several local service organizations also are targeted for CDBG funding, including $25,000 to Wheeling Health Right for pharmaceuticals, $10,000 each for The Soup Kitchen for food and supplies and Catholic Charities for low-income meals for the homeless, $8,500 for the Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless for utility costs at its transitional living facility, and $5,000 each for the Seeing Hand Association for workshop supplies and activities and Family Services of the Upper Ohio Valley for fuel, materials and supplies.
Many other CDBG distributions are expected to be made by the city during this fiscal year. Officials have noted that the city had received about $690,000 in additional CDBG funding through the federal CARES Act for reimbursement for pandemic-related expenses. This money was in addition to the city's annual HUD allocation of CDBG money, which is specifically earmarked to help expand economic opportunities in low- to moderate-income areas.
Also Tuesday, the Public Works Committee of Council is scheduled to meet at 11:30 a.m. in City Council Chambers immediately preceding the start of the regular council meeting. Members of the Public Works Committee -- which include Councilman Jerry Sklavounakis, chairman; Ben Seidler, vice-chariman; and Ty Thorngate, member -- is scheduled to discuss the city's Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Control ordinance.
Earlier this year, city leaders had moved forward with legislation to implement the FOG Control program, which is designed to help greatly reduce the amount of fats, oils and grease that end up in the city's sanitary sewer systems throughout the city. The FOG Control program will help keep the city's sewer systems clean and will help the city comply with Environmental Protection Agency regulations, city officials said.
This summer, city council tabled the ordinance adopting the FOG Control plan in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that around 500 local restaurants and food service entities will be have to come into compliance with the plan, and many of these businesses were already being burdened by the affects of the pandemic. Officials said most commercial kitchens do not meet the guidelines outlined in the plan, and in order to come into compliance -- in essence, by purchasing and installing grease traps that meet the plan's standards -- it could cost some entities as much as $10,000 to $20,000.
In other action scheduled for Tuesday, Wheeling City Council is expected to hear first readings on the following pieces of legislation:
* A resolution declaring racism a public health crisis
* Ordinances, both in the amount of $321,835, authorizing a grant agreement between the city and HUD for the HOME Investment Partnership Program and authorizing the expenditure of those funds for the Northern Panhandle HOME Consortium First Time Homebuyer program to assist qualified low- to moderate-income individuals or families.
* An ordinance for the purchase of a 2021 Peterbilt Model 520 truck with a rear loader packer body in the amount of $227,930 from Hunter Truck Sales of Smithfield, Pa.
* An ordinance for the purchase of a 2020 Altec bucket truck in the amount of $149,000 from Altec Industries Inc. of Elkins, W.Va.
* An ordinance for commercial property insurance via a policy in the amount of $49,974 with Glessner, Wharton & Andrews Insurance of Wheeling.
* An ordinance for a desk officer reporting system in the amount of $23,040 from Lexis Nexis of Alpharetta, Ga., to be charged to the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Fund.
* An ordinance fixing the assessments for the cost of razing dilapidated structures on various properties in the city.
* An expenditure of $16,500 with Northern Panhandle Conservation District of McMechen for operations and maintenance funds for Wheeling Creek Structure.
* An ordinance authorizing an agreement with the Ohio County Board of Education regarding use of a portion of the Garden Park Recreation Complex during the 2020-21 school year.