Wheeling City Council Meeting - September 2, 2025
Wheeling City Council Meeting - September 2, 2025
The Wheeling City Council met on September 2, 2025, with all members present. The council approved a series of ordinances for expenditures, a proclamation for Constitution Week, and received updates on streetlight repairs, the Elm Run drainage project, and other city initiatives. No public comment was recorded in the transcript beyond the introduction of a speaker.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of the August 19, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously.
- Ordinance authorizing $22,500 with James Wake Construction Company for valve replacement at Grandview Station (water) – approved.
- Ordinance authorizing $27,000 with Centrus for centrifuge rental services (water pollution control) – approved.
- Ordinance authorizing $27,504.85 with Jim Shorty Auto Group for a 2026 Trailblazer LS for the crisis response unit (West Virginia First Foundation grant) – approved.
- Ordinance authorizing $22,506.02 with Colossus Inc. for the Caliber mobile software annual subscription (police department) – approved.
- Ordinance vacating and abandoning a portion of an alley in Elmwood and authorizing quitclaim deeds – approved after a brief clarification.
- Ordinance authorizing $284,871 with Jim Shorty Auto Group for seven police vehicles (four cruisers and three canine units) – approved after discussion regarding the vehicle count and annual replacement program.
- Ordinance authorizing $133,006.55 with Aircom for equipment to outfit police vehicles – approved.
- Ordinance authorizing $33,350.01 with Motorola Solutions for police cruiser radios – approved.
- Ordinance authorizing $38,506 with Northside Chrysler Dodge Jeep and RAM for a 2024 Dodge Durango for the police department – approved.
- Resolution approving invoices relating to the cleanup and remediation of the 5819th Street property – approved.
- Resolution declaring the city's official intent to reimburse expenditures for water and sewer system improvements from future tax-exempt bonds – approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Carly Dittmar was recognized to speak, but the transcript cuts off before her comments were recorded.
Discussion Items
- Mayor's Report: Mayor Denny McGruder issued a proclamation declaring September 17–23 as Constitution Week. He also announced Greenwood and Mount Wood cemetery tours on September 7 (with parking at city lot six and shuttles) and the annual September 11th ceremony at Heritage Port at noon.
- Clerk's Report: Notice of an application to operate a private club (Yeegger's Hogie King LLC) at 3900 Jacob Street was presented.
- Councilor Racero: Requested updates on the AEP streetlight project and decorative lighting in the alley between Main and Market Streets. City Manager Heron reported that AEP will convert 44 lights on Zane and Virginia streets from high-pressure sodium to LED and has begun repairs. Councilor Racero expressed frustration over prolonged outages and called for the city to seek a credit from AEP. On decorative lighting, the city manager stated that a proposal is ready pending approval from Red.
- Councilor King: Reported on the Ace Wheeling Co-op back-to-school basketball tournament, the East Wheeling Labor Day bookout, compliments on paving by Simplified Paving Group, and reminded that Arts and Cultural funding applications are due by October 30.
- Councilor Thorngate: Announced the Elm Grove Civics 100-year anniversary open house on September 7, and emphasized that council members do substantial behind-the-scenes work between meetings.
- City Manager Heron: Reported that six of eight alleys in the CDBG paving contract are complete; the Elm Run drainage project is progressing with property owner outreach for temporary construction easements (the Miller Avenue culvert will be included in this project); the West Virginia substance use response plan community conversation will be held on September 16 at Wheeling University; and the Valley View Storm Sanitary Sewer project will begin on September 8 with traffic disruptions expected for three weeks.
- Streetlight Conversion Discussion: City Manager Heron confirmed that LED lights cost more per month (estimated $15–17 vs. $6.50 for high-pressure sodium) but use less electricity. The tariff is set by the Public Service Commission and is statewide. Councilor questioned whether the city could appeal to the PSC since the conversion is forced by parts unavailability. The city manager said he would look into the possibility.
Key Outcomes
- All consent calendar items and resolutions were approved without recorded opposition.
- The council held over the planning commission minutes (July 14, 2025) and the GWSCA minutes (June 24, 2025).
- No petitions or grievances were presented.
- An ordinance authorizing the issuance of up to $80 million in combined waterworks and sewerage system improvement revenue bonds (series 2025) was introduced and approved under original propositions.
- The city manager will continue discussions with AEP regarding the streetlight conversion and potential cost impacts.
Meeting Transcript
Please rise. We now call the Wheeling City Council meeting of September two, twenty twenty-five to order. And we'll ask the clerk, please to call the roll. Mr. Asaro. Here. Miss Kane. Mayor McGreater. Here. Mr. Palmer. Here. Mr. Seitler. Here. Mr. Slavonakis. And Mr. Thorngate. Here. Quorum is present. Thank you. We have the minutes from August 19, 2025. Is there a motion to accept those as submitted? So moved. Second. Any changes, discussion? If not, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. And those opposed, those minutes are approved. Next on the agenda, we have the mayor's report, and this evening we have a proclamation. Whereas September 17, 2025 marks the 238th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention. And whereas it is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations, which we which will commemorate this occasion. And whereas public law nine fifteen guarantees the issuing of proclamation each year by the President of the United States of America designating September 17 through 23 as Constitution Week. Now therefore, I Denny McGruder, by virtue of the authority vested in me as mayor of the city of Wheeling in the state of West Virginia, you hereby proclaim the week of September 17 through 23 as Constitution Week. And we urge all citizens to fly United States flags at their businesses and homes, study the Constitution, and reflect on the privilege of being an American with all the rights and responsibilities which that privilege involves. Now I don't know if any of you have ever experienced the tours that they've had at Greenwood. They're absolutely phenomenal. This is the first time I think they've ever done one at Mount Wood. And so it's it's great. It's Sunday, September 7. The tours are continuous between the hours of one and five. First tour starts at one, last tar last tour leaves at four. Uh the other thing I would say to you, there is no parking at the cemetery itself. So we're asking people to please park in the city's lot six, and that's at Marcus Street between 10 and 11, right across from Market Plaza. So if you park there, uh shuttles will take you up to uh the cemetery and back. So for those that uh love history, this is a great opportunity. The other thing is I want to remind folks that uh September 11's coming up, and the annual uh September 11th ceremony will be held at noon on September 11th at Heritage Port. I want to say thank you to our safety forces. They're a huge part of this celebration.
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