photo by: Eric Ayres

Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder and Vice Mayor Jerry Sklavounakis participate in a recent meeting of Wheeling City Council, discussing last week's West Virginia Municipal League Legislative Conference.

WHEELING – City leaders from Wheeling returned from last week’s annual West Virginia Municipal League Legislative Conference with a fresh perspective about the Friendly City’s many assets – from its unique quality of life to its respected leadership in the state.

The Municipal League conference took place March 17-19 in Charleston, where members of Wheeling City Council and the city administration took part in various meetings, sessions and networking opportunities with mayors, council members and city leaders from municipalities throughout the state.

“What we do is we speak to mayors and city council members and try to figure out what issues they’re facing and what issues we’re facing,” Wheeling Vice Mayor Jerry Sklavounakis said. “We also try to talk about some of the positive things that are happening throughout the state.”

The West Virginia Municipal League meets twice a year – once during a legislative session and once during the summer, Sklavounakis said, noting that officials around the state are often faced with similar challenges.

“I think it’s pretty clear that one of the biggest issues that Wheeling faces is an issue that every other municipality in our state – except for a very few – is facing, and that’s population loss and population retention,” Sklavounakis said. “That’s what I think that we here at city council are really trying to focus on.”

While there’s no single thing that can magically reverse population loss in any community, Sklavounakis noted that one approach they can take to at least help reverse the trend is keeping a focus on ensuring a good quality of life.

“When you look at our city, we really do have a wonderful quality of life, and I think that everything that we do is done to enhance that,” Sklavounakis said. “Crime statistics are down, we live in a relatively safe community, despite what the naysayers say. We have amenities in this community that other cities and towns our size in this state and throughout the country just don’t have.”

The councilman noted that the Mountain East Conference recently took place at WesBanco Arena and has committed to return for at least three more years.

“That’s a wonderful sign of the quality of life here,” he said. “We have a college basketball tournament – not too many cities get to say that.”

Sklavounakis added that the arena and Capitol Theatre – previously led by Denny Magruder, now Wheeling’s mayor – are great assets to the city that offer events that other communities cannot. Sklavounakis said that although Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority Executive Director Kelly Tucker had “some big shoes to fill,” the busy slate of events on tap at the arena and the theater are drawing crowds to the city and are a credit to the work of her and her staff.

“I think Kelly Tucker has done a great job – the Capitol (Theatre) is bumpin’,” Sklavounakis said, touting the successful shows recently such as those by musician Aaron Lewis and comedian Vicki Lawrence. “It’s another factor that shows that quality of life here is excellent.”

The city will continue to support unique assets like the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, which has been performing in the community for over 95 years, Sklavounakis stated.

“Cities our size don’t get to say that,” he noted. “We have a city park system that’s run by the Wheeling Park Commission that’s really unrivaled. That’s another quality of life that we have that other communities do not have.

“I think that Wheeling is a wonderful place to live, raise a family, work and visit. I know that we on city council will do everything that we can to continue to have a wonderful quality of life. It really does take a village to ensure that our quality of life continues the way it is, and anything that we can do to help with that, I know that we will do.”

Last week’s West Virginia Municipal League Legislative Conference was the first since Magruder took his position as mayor last summer.

“For me it was my first opportunity to go to a Municipal League meeting, and it was very beneficial,” Magruder said. “I learned quite a bit, but one of the things that I really learned made me feel good about Wheeling. Because when I talked to mayors and legislators from all of the counties around West Virginia, I found out that many of them – most, in fact – considered Wheeling to be a leader.”

Magruder said Wheeling City Solicitor Rose Humway-Warmuth’s name came up often, because when officials from other municipalities need help with drafting legislation and language for legal documents, they do not hesitate to collaborate with her. He said the same about City Manager Robert Herron, who has served the city for more than 20 years. Whether municipalities are looking at a new resolution for police and fire pensions or are designing a city skatepark, they know Wheeling has already blazed a trail, the mayor touted.

“Bob Herron’s been a leading city manager,” Magruder said. “I heard different projects talked about, and they said, ‘well, Wheeling did it first.’

“I just want to let you know that our folks are recognized as leaders in this state. And to me, that was really important.”

In addition to Magruder and Sklavounakis, Council members Ben Seidler, Connie Cain and Ty Thorngate; Herron and Assistant City Manager Bill Lanham; and City Clerk Jessica Zalenski were among those who attended the West Virginia Municipal League’s Legislative Conference last week.