Construction Halted on Moundsville City Building After Contractor Files for Bankruptcy

MOUNDSVILLE -- Moundsville City Manager Rick Healy estimated work on the new city building site will be stopped for at least two weeks following the project's general contractor filing for bankruptcy.

Healy said Thursday that workers did not show up to the site last Friday to work. The city learned Monday the contractor &build filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

"We locked up the site and stopped the subcontractors from working," Healy said.

He noted the project is protected by a bond and now it will be up to the bonding company to find a new contractor for the project.

"We're working behind the scenes, but we're sort of at their mercy as to who they select," he said of the bonding company. "It will be a short delay and we're hoping to get construction restarted in the next couple weeks."

Healy noted that some people have been complaining that the city should not have selected &build in the first place, but he said the city is required to choose the lowest bidder and &build was that.

"It's sort of out of our control. ... It's out of our hands," he said.

Construction of the $12.5 million Moundsville Municipal Building began in September 2022. The new building will house the city offices, fire department and police department. It will also include a drive-through for people to use to pay bills.