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WHEELING -- Employees in the city of Wheeling are scheduled to undergo racial and inherent bias training beginning in January as part of the city's efforts to end the toxic cycle of social inequities.
Earlier this fall, members of Wheeling City Council took what was heralded as a bold step forward in the social justice debate by unanimously adopting a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.
As part of this declaration, council instructed City Manager Robert Herron to initiate steps to ensure the city is taking a lead toward achieving goals that champion social equality.
Among those steps within the city government are requirements that all classified and unclassified municipal employees receive implicit bias training.
All new city employees also will undergo this training as part of the hiring process, as the city works toward building a more diverse and inclusive workforce that incorporates inclusion and equity, with an understanding of how racial divides affect the entire community.
This past week, the city manager advised members of Wheeling City Council that racial bias training for all municipal workers will begin early next year.
"City employees are scheduled to have racial and inherent bias training beginning in the third week of January to span over a two-week period," Herron said.
"Each training will be at least a one-day experience for all employees. We have retained a national trainer out of Columbus through the law firm of Dinsmore and Shohl to complete the training. Once that is completed, then we will set up a schedule for ongoing training to continue to educate our employees on racial and inherent bias."
Councilwoman Rosemary Ketchum -- who, through the Health and Recreation Committee of Council, helped launch the effort to move the public health crisis resolution forward -- thanked Herron and applauded the announcement of the forthcoming training sessions.
"I think it's incredibly critical that we all work from a place of knowledge and understanding," Ketchum said, "and I'm grateful for your help in that matter."
In other action this week, Wheeling City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the city manager to spend $509,920 with Fire Apparatus Service Technicians (FAST) of Dublin, Ohio, for the purchase of a 1750 GPM Sutphen G5 pumper to be charged to the city's project fund, which in recent months has been bolstered with federal money received for pandemic-related reimbursements through the CARES (Coronavirus Aird, Relief and Economic Security) Act.
"This new truck will replace Engine 9, located at the city's Warwood fire station," Wheeling Fire Chief Larry Helms said. "This much-needed purchase will replace the current apparatus, which is 33 years old. With this addition, we will also be able to place the current truck in our reserves, should we need a backup in a fire emergency. I thank council for allowing us the funding to upgrade our fleet."
Also this week, city leaders provided updates on various ongoing and upcoming matters, including:
– The city manager reported that a stretch of decent weather has allowed crews to complete a vast majority of the city's street paving projects for the season. A total of more than $887,000 worth of street paving work began this fall.
"Council awarded a very large paving project earlier this fall, and then permitted the contractor to move forward with two readings," Herron said. "I'm happy to report about 70 percent of the paving has been completed. The CDBG portion has not yet, and there's still about four or five streets on the general fund sales tax RCIP portion that have not been completed. But the vast majority of the work was done, so we're happy to report that."
– Mayor Glenn Elliott reported that two charitable holiday programs in the city are underway.
"Our city's fourth annual Food for Fines program, which enables residents to instead of paying the $10 for parking tickets to pay with cans of food," Elliott said. "So far we've collected about 100 cans. So thanks for the folks who've done that. That program goes on through the end of December. All of the cans we collect will go to food pantries across the city."
Another campaign by the city is aimed at raising funds for the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley. If the city raises $3,000 before its next council meeting, city officials will wear wacky holiday attire during the meeting.
"For our Silly Suit Fundraiser, most of us have agreed to do it at the next meeting," the mayor said. "My report from the city clerk indicates we are going to have a long ways to go to get there. If you want to donate to this cause, 100 percent of the proceeds go toward Operation Toy Lift, which provides underprivileged children gifts for the holiday season.
"You can go to the city's Facebook page or the United Way page and find out how to donate to that. But if we raise $3,000, I think we're all going to wear our most festive attire at the next meeting whether it’s in person or whether it’s virtual, as seems somewhat likely at this point."
Vice Mayor Chad Thalman encouraged everyone — especially those who are interested in seeing city leaders dress in their holiday best — to donate.
"I think it's basically all or nothing," Thalman said. "If we're at $2,999, I don't think anyone is wearing these suits."
– Councilman Dave Palmer announced that plans are in the works for a special holiday event in Elm Grove.
"I've been in contact with the North Pole, and I have some very exciting news for the children of Ward 6," Palmer said. "Santa Claus has agreed to do a drive-by greeting next week on some of the streets of Elm Grove. Details are being worked out with Mrs. Claus, and route and proposed times will be released soon. I'm very excited for the children — and the adults — of Ward 6 to be able to see Santa Claus."