Photo by Eric Ayres Wheeling City Council is expected to introduce legislation tonight to replace the roof on the historic Lower Market House in Centre Market. The new roof for the building that dates back to 1890 is expected to cost $680,000.

WHEELING – Officials in Wheeling are preparing to spend nearly $1.2 million on two major upgrade and maintenance projects for existing city-owned structures – the 10th Street Parking Garage and Centre Market’s Lower Market House.

Members of Wheeling City Council are scheduled to meet tonight at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers for their second regular meeting for the month of April. Among several new pieces of legislation slated to be introduced tonight are upgrades to the parking garage and a roof replacement for the market house.

A new ordinance up for a first reading tonight will be to authorize City Manager Robert Herron to spend $518,900 with Lombardi Development of Follansbee for stair tower and elevator upgrades at the 10th Street Parking Garage. The project will be charged to the city’s regular RCIP (Restricted Capital Improvement Project) Fund in the amount of $300,000 and to the 10th Street Parking R&R (Repair and Rehabilitation/Replacement) Fund.

Just two years ago, the city spend $342,000 on a five-year preventative repair and maintenance project for the 10th Street Parking Garage, which is regularly utilized by employees of businesses in the downtown – including employees at Williams Lea, residents of the Stone Center Lofts and the Doris on Main, patrons at events at the Capitol Theatre, and other downtown commuters.

Another new ordinance also set for a first reading during tonight’s meeting will be to authorize the expenditure of $680,000 with Mansuetto Roofing and Sheet Metal of Martins Ferry for the replacement of the roof on the Lower Market House at Centre Market.

This roof replacement project on the sprawling, historic building in Center Wheeling will be charged to several different funding sources. A grant from the National Park Service in the amount of $150,000 will be used, along with a West Virginia State Development grant in the amount of $42,500, along with $289,000 from the city’s regular RCIP, $107,500 from the city’s Infrastructure RCIP and $100,000 from the city’s Project Fund.

Mansuetto Roofing and Sheet Metal was determined to be the lowest and best bidder for the roof replacement project at Centre Market. By comparison, Kalkreuth Roofing submitted a bid of $768,375 for the job, and Ramp Construction bid $735,000 for the project.

Built in 1890, the Lower Market House is actually the newer of the two historic market houses in Centre Market. The Upper Market House predates the Civil War, opening its doors in 1853.

In other action tonight, a first reading on a new ordinance is on tap authorizing the expenditure of $73,000 with Savage Construction Inc. of Wheeling for a slip repair on Glenwood Road.

Legislation for the purchase of a Kubota tractor from Lashley Tractor Sales of St. Clairsville in the amount of $36,823 is also up for a first reading during this evening’s meeting.

Also tonight, members of the Finance Committee of Wheeling City Council are scheduled to meet at 5:15 p.m. prior to the regular council meeting to discuss the city’s March Financial Report.