WHEELING – Officials in the city of Wheeling are preparing to move forward with the next big project as part of the city’s long-term Water Pollution Control Plan, with work slated to take place in North Park this year.

A new ordinance for the sewer improvement project is scheduled to be introduced tonight during Wheeling City Council’s first regular meeting in April. The legislation will authorize Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron to spend $474,550 with Cast and Baker Corporation of Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, for the North Park Sewer Improvement project.

The work is to be charged to the city’s Water Pollution Control bonds, according to the ordinance.

Cast and Baker Corporation was deemed the lowest and best bidder for the project. In comparison, other contractors that submitted bids for the work included: James White Construction of Weirton with a bid of $489,070 for the contract, Ohio-West Virginia Excavating of Shadyside with a bid of $512,306, Virco Contracting of Charleston, with a bid of $549,150 and O’Brien’s Rent-All of Wheeling with a bid of $590,000.

The city’s long-term Water Pollution Control Plan includes several phases of improvements to the municipal sewer system to take place over the course of around 30 years. Much of the work involves separating the city’s old combined sanitary sewer and storm sewer lines to address environmental mandates.

Wheeling City Council is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. today in council chambers at the City-County Building on Chapline Street downtown.

Other original propositions scheduled for first readings during tonight’s meeting include amendments to the city’s codes regarding barking dogs and animal cruelty. Proposed amendments to two articles to enhance language to define more clearly the requirements for providing shelter to animals – specifically protecting pets from harsh weather and extremely hot or cold temperatures.

The amendments also redefine “unlawful noises by dogs or cats” and establishes a new set of penalties for those found to be in violation of these codes.

City officials have worked to put more teeth in the codes to allow police officers and the dog warden or animal shelter personnel to take action against pet owners who are keeping pets outside under adverse conditions or who have pets that consistently disturb neighbors with noise.

Also tonight, council is expected to hear new legislation officially enacting the city’s new Municipal Tree Board and setting the Municipal Council Levy Estimate for fiscal year 2023-24.

Second and final readings are scheduled for several ordinances introduced during the last regular city council meeting in March. Matters set for final readings and votes before council include legislation for the new Home-Owner Repair Assistance Program for Homes Built Prior to 1940, as well as contracts for cleaning services at the new Wheeling Police Department Headquarters, a new roof at the Wheeling Fire Department Station No. 4 in South Wheeling and for various electrical services inside the new fire department headquarters that is being built on 17^th Street in East Wheeling.

Prior to tonight’s regular city council meeting, members of the Development Committee of Council are scheduled to meet at 5:15 p.m. to discuss a number of issues, including a proposed lane abandonment of a portion of the 2300 block of Water Street, a proposed property lease to Macedonia Baptist Church and matters dealing with real estate representation for commercial space that will available in the lower level of the new Market Street Parking Structure, which is currently under construction downtown.