City To Upgrade WesBanco Arena Video Board
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Officials in the city of Wheeling are moving forward with a number of needed purchases, including one for upgrades to the WesBanco Arena video boards.
Members of Wheeling City Council recently approved an ordinance authorizing the transfer of funds in the amount of $26,500 from the Arena Restricted Capital Improvement Project Fund to WesBanco Arena for a new switcher board for the arena's video board system.
The upgrade will bring much-needed improvements to the video boards in the facility, according to WesBanco Arena Executive Director Denny Magruder.
"The video board is suffering some signs of obsolescence," Magruder said. "It is highly electronic, and a number of the parts and software are now outdated. As a result, we're doing some upgrades to the video board which will make it state-of-the-art."
Magruder said the new equipment will help make the boards much more user-friendly to operate and stay in sync with modern technology.
"It will allow the board to communicate and synchronize with the ribbon boards," he said. "It will also allow for third-party access so we can remotely acquire displays for the board. This update will provide a much better, synchronized experience during events at WesBanco Arena."
Another purchase by the city is expected to be approved by city council this week. An ordinance authorizing City Manager Robert Herron to spend $198,600 with Metron Farnier of Boulder, Colorado, is set for a vote on Tuesday. This purchase will be for the latest round of smart water meters and related systems.
Jebbia explained that the smart water meters have a transmitter that sends an actual water meter reading to a receiver on a water department truck.
"This allows meters to be read on a monthly basis so residents are being billed from an actual reading rather than an estimate," Jebbia said.
The smart water meter purchase is being paid through money in the city's water distribution fund.
Another major purchase that is expected to be authorized this week will add additional vehicles to the Wheeling Police Department as part of the assigned vehicle program. The city in recent years supported Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger's request to provide take-home vehicles to officers instead of constantly running shared vehicles from shift to shift. The program is expected to extend the life of police vehicles in the city and save money on vehicle expenses in the long run.
The latest purchase for $118,532 with Stephens Auto of Danville will be for four 2022 Ford Explorers. The cost of the purchase will be charged to the police department's assigned vehicle program fund.
Members of Wheeling City Council are expected to meet at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday in council chambers at the City-County Building on Chapline Street.