photo by: Eric Ayres

Wheeling Councilwoman Connie Cain, left, listens as City Manager Robert Herron speaks during a council meeting this month.

WHEELING — Officials in the city of Wheeling are looking ahead to upcoming water and sewer projects on tap that are expected to cost more than $66 million.

Members of the Public Works Committee of Council are expected to meet in the coming weeks to discuss the array of prioritized projects for water and wastewater system improvements throughout the city. The list of proposed capital improvement projects are expected to be paid through bond financing and will include the cost of construction, engineering services and contingencies for each project.

“I do have a list of water and sewer capital projects that we’re going to be proposing to discuss with the Public Works Committee of Wheeling City Council later this month,” Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said, noting that the date of the committee meeting is yet to be scheduled.

Late last year, council heard a detailed presentation of the Water Department’s capital improvement projects as presented by Superintendent Lori Siburt, along with engineers from CT Consultants.

A similar presentation for the wastewater projects is expected to be delivered during the upcoming Public Works Committee meeting.

“Once a list of projects is approved, a rate and bond analysis will then be done for city council consideration,” Herron said. “Ultimately once approved, each project would be bid separately.”

City leaders are expected to review projects for both water and sewer capital improvements, and the list of prioritized projects could change in the future, based on city council’s future consideration.

“This outlines the projects that are going to be proposed for both water, which council has already heard a presentation on, as well as the wastewater projects, which we will have our engineers present at that committee meeting,” Herron said. “Water projects are projected at around $20 million, and sewer projects – which include the sewage treatment plant as well as other projects around the city – are projected at $45,900,000.”

Water projects on the list – as announced in December – include Mozart and Clearview booster stations and water main improvements estimated at $3,226,226; Atlas, Carmel, Grandview and Oglebay-Leewood/Pogue Run water main improvements projected at $6,323,888; Boggs Hill booster station and water main improvements valued at $7,346,472; and the Wheeling Water Treatment Plant sludge dewatering improvement project estimated at $3,333,686; for a total capital improvement cost for water projects at $20,230,272.

On the wastewater side, a total of six projects are being targeted.

They include Wastewater Treatment Facility improvements valued at $30.6 million; Warwood area infiltration and inflow reduction estimated to cost $6.5 million; Mt. DeChantal and Dorman Road area sewer and drainage improvements project at $1.7 million; GC&P Phase 2 sewer improvements estimated at $1 million; siphon replacement near WesBanco Arena projected to cost $3.8 million; and sewer improvements for the Dimmeydale-Oakmont area estimated at $2.3 million.

In total, the wastewater capital improvement projects are expected to cost around $45.9 million.

The city is also moving forward with other utility improvements, and council recently approved legislation related to financing for needed sewer system improvements.

This month, members of Wheeling City Council approved an ordinance authorizing the financing for the design, acquisition and construction of improvements and extensions to the city’s sewerage portion of the existing public combined waterworks and sewage system. The legislation authorizes the issuance of bond anticipation notes with a principal amount not to exceed $6 million.

“There are three projects included in that note,” Herron explained. “‘Emergency’ is not the right term, but they do need to be completed sooner than later. That includes the digester cleaning and repair, the centrifuge replacement and the engineering associated with these projects.”