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WHEELING -- A brimming slate of new legislation is scheduled to be brought before members of Wheeling City Council tonight as city leaders return to council chambers and meet for the first time in three weeks.
Several new ordinances and resolutions have been placed on tonight's agenda, including legislation for some big purchases and major infrastructure projects.
Among the new pieces of legislation set for first readings tonight is an ordinance authorizing the city manager to spend $784,979 with Cast & Baker Corporation of Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, for the 22nd Street Sewer Improvement Project. This contract is to be paid with money from the city's Water Pollution Control Bond Fund.
Cast & Baker submitted the lowest bid for the project. By comparison, Ohio West Virginia Excavating submitted a bid for $1,204,494 for the work, and The James White Construction Company bid $895,250 for the job.
Other new ordinances up for first readings tonight are for purchases of trucks and heavy equipment for city departments. A new ordinance up for a first reading tonight would authorize the city manager to spend $860,000 with Sutphen Corporation of Dublin, Ohio, for the purchase of a pumper truck to be charged to Wheeling's Fiscal Year 2023 Community Development Block Grant fund.
Another ordinance would authorize the expenditure of $399,388 with Beitzel Corporation of Grantsville, Maryland, for two sludge recirculation pumps to be charged to the Water Pollution Control Bond Fund. By comparison, Triton Construction submitted a bid of $487,500 for the pumps.
Additionally, an ordinance authorizing the purchase of Return Activated Sludge and Waste Activated Sludge pumps in the amount of $376,304 from Grade 8 Solutions LLC of Warren, Ohio is also scheduled to be introduced.
The purchase of these pumps would be charged to the city's 2021 A Bond. Officials have indicated that these sludge pumps will be utilized at the city's sewage treatment plant in an effort to help reduce odors emitted from the facility.
City leaders will also hear a first reading on an ordinance authorizing an expenditure in the amount of $447,328 with Jim Robinson Ford Lincoln Inc. of Triadelphia for the purchase of four F-550 dump trucks to be charged to the general fund. The unit price for each dump truck is $111,832, and Jim Robinson submitted the lowest bid for the purchase. By comparison, Stephens Auto Center bid $450,504, Tri-State Ford bid $451,536 and Matheny Ford bid $474,560.
The purchase of a new skid loader is also slated to be charged to the general fund. A new ordinance being introduced tonight would authorize the purchase of a 2023 JBC Teleskid skid steer loader from Stephenson Equipment Inc. of McDonald, Pa. In the amount of $104,111.
City officials are also scheduled to hear a first reading on an ordinance to spend $1,129,424 with Travelers USI Insurance Services LLC of Charleston, W.Va., for Fiscal Year 2023-24 insurance premiums. Costs will be split by several funds, including the city's general fund, parking fund, Water Division fund and Water Pollution Control Division fund.
One new item to be charged to the City Service fee will be for paving related to a road slip repair on East Cardinal Street. An ordinance authorizing the expenditure of $22,850 with Savage Construction Inc. is up for a first reading tonight for this paving project.
Another new ordinance is being introduced to authorize a $37,600 contract with O'Brien's Rent All and Sales of Wheeling for valve replacement at Seventh and Main streets. This project will be paid through money from the city's 2021 Water Project Fund.
An ordinance set for a second and final reading, followed by a vote by council will authorize the expenditure of $2 million - transferring this money from the city's Project Fund to West Virginia University Health Systems for the purpose of economic re-development purposes at the former Ohio Valley Medical Center campus. Seven buildings are slated for demolition at the site, where WVU Health Systems is expected to construct a new regional cancer center. The city was slated to contribute $2 million for the demolition, as was the Ohio County Commissioners. WVU Health System will contribute up to $3 million needed for the asbestos removal, demolition and site preparation on the property.
A new ordinance up for a first reading tonight will fix the assessments for the costs of razing dilapidated structures of certain properties in the city. Over the past year, the city has taken action to raze scores of dilapidated properties, utilizing a demolition budget of $1 million during the previous fiscal year. The assessments become liens on the properties where the dilapidated structures had been located, and the city will look to recover costs associated with the inspection, abatement, demolition and removal of the neglected structures.
Several resolutions are also set for consideration tonight, authorizing funds for applicants in the latest round of Facade Improvement Grant projects.
Tonight's regular city council meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Prior to the meeting, members of the Public Works Committee of Council are slated to meet at 5 p.m. in council chambers to discuss a general policy regarding concrete streets, city owned sidewalks and an ordinance regarding the Fats, Oils and Grease program to help keep the city's sewer lines from being clogged by these materials.