New legislation slated to be introduced tonight before Wheeling City Council aims to transfer the building located at 129-15th St. to the Ohio Valley ADC for a potential economic development project. A private developer is looking to renovate the historic building into market rate apartments. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

WHEELING – Members of Wheeling City Council are scheduled to hear first readings on new legislation tonight, including action on a proposed property transfer in East Wheeling and improvement projects at recreational facilities.

Council is slated to meet at 5:30 p.m. in the second floor courtroom at the City-County Building on Chapline Street downtown.

One new ordinance being introduced is to authorize the conveyance of property at 129-15th St. to the Ohio Valley ADC, an economic development entity used by the city for certain projects.

In recent weeks, the Development Committee of Wheeling City Council met in executive session to discuss a proposal for redevelopment at this property from Dan Stephens. The committee recommended that the city transfer this property to the Ohio Valley ADC for the purposes of facilitating this redevelopment.

Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said that the historic building at the corner of 15th and Wood streets in East Wheeling needs some work, but is a promising structure. The developer is interested in creating market-rate apartments in the building.

The property is situated across the street from the former Clay School building, which is slated to be demolished this year. The city in recent years had taken ownership of both the Clay School building and the property at 129-15th St., officials said.

City council is also slated to hear a first reading on a new ordinance to spend $114,115 with Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc. of Wheeling for the replacement of the roofs at the 36th Street and Bridge Park pool facilities. Kalkreuth was the low bidder for the roofing project. By comparison, Mansuetto Roofing Co. submitted a bid of $168,860 and Ramp Construction bid $140,000.

The pool facility roof replacement work is slated to be charged to the city’s Community Development Block Grant funding for fiscal year 2025.

Another improvement project is in the works for recreational facilities in Mozart. A new ordinance is up for a first reading tonight to spend $54,712 with GameTime of Charlotte, N.C., for Mozart Park Shelter and recreation equipment. This work is to be charged to the city’s Project Fund.

Also tonight, a first reading is slated for a new ordinance to spend $73,915 with Yahn Electric Company Inc. of Wheeling for electric vehicle (EV) charges at the Intermodal Transportation Center and in Centre Market. Yahn was the low bidder for the work. By comparison, ERB Electric bid $78,850 for the job and United Electric bid $75,000.

This EV charger project is to be paid through Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grand funds from the state.

Council is also expected to vote on a resolution approving invoices related to the cleanup and remediation of property located at 58-19th St. – the site that once housed the Hazel-Atlas Glass and Metal factory and Penn-Wheeling Closure facility. The city acquired the 19th Street property and cleared the vacant buildings from the site. A remediation project was initiated at the former industrial site and the city was able to secure funding through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection for the remediation.

Through the new resolution, Environmental Standards/Montrose Environmental will be paid $14,555 for invoices related to the project. A total of $3,858 will be paid through grant funds and $10,697 will be paid through the loan money available through the West Virginia DEP’s Voluntary Remediation Program.