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.

Uh and so at noon on September 11.

Uh Vice Mayor Sklavanakis will be there helping out Rabbi Joshua Leaf and uh and our team.

So thank you.

But there's two great events.

That's all I really have this evening, so I'll go to the clerk's report.

There is a notice notice of application to operate a private club, Yeegger's Hogie King LLC located at 3900 Jacob Street.

And that concludes Clerk's report.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of 22,500 with James Wake Construction Company of Weirton West Virginia for valve replacement at Grandview Station to be charged to water.

I'll move to adopt the ordinance.

A second.

Is there any discussion?

If not, please uh record your votes.

That motion's approved.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of 27,000 with Centrus of Kenosha, Wisconsin for purchase of rental services for centrifuge should be charged to water pollution control.

Move for adoption of the ordinance.

That's second.

Do we have any discussion?

Hearing not, I ask you to please record your vote.

That motion is approved.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of 27,504 and eighty five cents with Jim Shorty Auto Group of Irwin, Pennsylvania for a 2026 Trailblazer LS for crisis response response unit to be charged to West Virginia First Foundation grant.

Move for adoption of the ordinance.

Second.

Any discussion or questions?

Hearing none, I asked you again to please record your votes.

Motion approved.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of $22,506 and two cents with Colossus Inc.

of Chicago, Illinois for the purchase of caliber mobile software annual subscription to be charged to the police department.

Move to adopt the ordinance.

All second.

Again, hearing none, I ask you to please record your vote.

Motion approved.

An ordinance of the council of the city of Wheeling, vacating and abandoning that portion of the alley designated on the map of Elmwood, lying between lots 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and the southwestly one half of lot nine on the plat of Elmwood and a 7.108 acre tract and authorizing the city manager to execute such quick claim deeds to implement this abandonment.

I move uh to adopt the ordinance.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

Just a quick question for the city managers.

This is the alley that runs behind the house, and now the homeowner will take full responsibility for any upkeep or that's correct.

Yes.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

If not, please record your vote.

Motion approved.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of 284,871 dollars with Jim Shorty Auto Group of Irwin, Pennsylvania for seven police vehicles, vehicles to be charged to the police department.

I'd move to adopt the ordinance second.

Is there any discussion?

Yes.

I would like to know how many police vehicles do we have.

Well, I'll let you make a real quick comment on that.

Um so uh several years ago, city council made an a significant investment in the police department uh vehicle um area uh in instituting a take-home cruiser um program.

It has been very, very successful.

I believe all of our um certified officers that are not probationary now have a have a vehicle.

Uh and but part of that investment was to make sure that we maintained um the annual replacement of vehicles to uh replace vehicles, obviously that uh you know had timed out uh to keep that program going and to not have to go through a significant investment of of acquiring you know 20 or 30 cars like we did to begin with.

So this is the annual allocation of police vehicles.

Um it's it was included in the budget, was approved by uh city council uh back in uh March.

Um, but it is a little bit higher than normal because there are three canine units in this uh acquisition, which was a request of council at the time.

So uh there are four uh cruisers and three canine units included in this acquisition proposed acquisition.

As far as the number of cruisers, I don't know if the uh chief knows that off the top of his head, but I'll give them a chance to 70 to 75 motorcycles.

Okay.

Well, we feel like 500 will be a number of well, it's a little bit higher this year because of the canine units, yeah.

Yeah, so no, it will not be that high.

Any further questions?

If not, I'd ask you to please record your votes.

Motion approved.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the mount of 133,006 and 55 cents with Aircom of Dallas, Texas for equipment to outfit police vehicles to be charged to the police department.

I'll move to adopt the ordinance.

A second.

Is there any discussion?

Again, hearing none, please record your votes.

Motion approved.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of 33,350 and one cent with Motorola Solutions of Coralopolis, Pennsylvania for the purchase of police cruiser radios to be charged to the police department.

Option number second.

Is there any discussion?

Please record your votes.

That motion is approved.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds an amount of $38,506 with Northside Chrysler Dodge Jeep and RAM of Summersville, West Virginia for a 2024 Dodge Durango to be charged to assign police department vehicle.

Vote for adoption of the ordinance.

Second, is there any discussion?

Once again, hearing none, I ask you to record your vote.

The motion's approved.

That concludes unfinished business.

Thank you very much.

Uh we're now down to re remarks from members of council.

I'm going to ask Councilor Racero, please to begin tonight.

We have to happen Tuesday.

It's uh tonight at 7 p.m.

The band is twice as nice.

We'll be playing.

Yeah, thank you, Mary.

I just have a couple of uh questions for updates on things.

Um, and then I have one update as well.

Um, so I'll start with my update.

Uh last council meeting I asked uh um for uh for uh a little bit of information from our legal department about the process for um our code inspector, our code inspection uh team to uh if they were called out about a complaint about a uh a rental property.

Um, you know, it's part of our policy today that we don't always just go into those places.

Um I did get a little bit more clarification on that, which is great.

Thank the uh thank you to the Madam Solicitor.

Um, you know, the city of Wheeling will certainly go into those properties as needed if invited by a tenant um in cases of um uh safety issues or or other um extreme issues.

Um you know the process is really to put those pictures on a 311 site uh and uh at wheeling wb.gov slash 311 or download that govilot app and send those into code enforcement.

Uh we certainly do try to engage the landlords as part of that process because those are the people that are you know, obviously going to fix the issue.

But um, you know, when there's a safety issue, uh our code enforcement department, legal department has assured us that they certainly will uh take action there as necessary.

Uh uh, Mr.

Harren, just uh if you if you were uh Mr.

Lannon could give just updates on uh the AEP streetlight project, I know that's been coming to a head a little bit.

I know you guys have made some progress with working with them on that.

Then also the the decorative lights um and just the alley lighting between Maine and Market Street um between the plaza folks going to have them to call.

Yeah, absolutely.

Um so I have had conversations with uh AEP um last week, uh several.

Uh they have completed the um overall audit of the island that was done last Monday.

Uh they have also, I don't know the results of that, um, but I do know that uh we did hear from them today that they do want to start changing out every light on the island from high pressure sodium to LED.

Um the uh immediate uh repair uh that they're going to be doing, which they started um last week, uh, is there are 44 lights that are out on Zane and Virginia and the blocks in between.

And as I mentioned to Mr.

Seidel last week, uh they had scheduled that to uh you know begin and and do um all repairs within a I think a one or two week period.

And but they are based on our conversation.

They are they have begun repairing those now, and they'll get to you know, they'll repair them as they can.

I do know that they started repair, they did repair one light and got caught off for an emergency, so they have started that process, but just in that area alone, there are 44 lights that are going to be converted.

Um, so um and uh I know that's I'll be Mr.

Hammer before we move on to the next one.

Um, I do want to reiterate that Fulton is having some of the same issues there.

So we need the this effort has to happen in Fulton as well.

Okay.

Um in North Wheeling, uh, there's a handful of them, but North Wheeling isn't as in bad shape.

A lot of it's obviously down Main Street.

That those that effort has to happen in Fulton too.

And and and I think that we should uh push them for some kind of credit um back.

I mean, we have you know 44 lights that are out in just a couple block radius.

I mean, I know that moving to these new sodium lights are expensive in terms of tariffs.

Uh, I think that you know, we've been really complaining about this for years now.

I think it's uh, you know, AEP's coming at us with a rate increase, you know, across the board, you know, while their profit margins skyrocket.

Um, I think it's time for them to feel a little bit of pain as well, and offer the city a credit back on this.

Okay.

That's ridiculous.

Uh we will explore what our um uh options are there.

Thanks.

Um and then the uh the decorative lights uh uh between the Stone Center or between Market Street uh and Main Street uh near Market Plaza next to the Stone Center.

We do have a uh price to put uh lighting packs on the side of the building, similar to what we did on the front of the buildings.

Uh, we are waiting for written approval from uh red to do that.

They will have plugs uh in them.

Um we have uh the foot candle levels that they will illuminate the uh alleyway, you know, for people who walk from the plaza to the Capitol Theater and back, parking structure, et cetera.

Uh the the foot candle levels are very good.

Uh they will have plugs in the event that we're able to uh put the string lights across the uh road as well, but we will be illuminating that area.

Uh we I do have a proposal that I'm ready to sign off on from Herb Electric.

It's just getting permission from Red, which we anticipate receiving.

Okay, so this is this is overhead lighting as well as the foot candles.

That's correct.

Yep.

Right.

Thank you, sir.

That's all for me.

Thank you.

Councilor King.

Just a couple things.

Um Ace Willing co-op had their first back to school basketball tournament at Tunnel Green um two weeks ago.

And also at East Willing, Labor Day bookout.

It is not only for east willing residents, but it is for everyone.

Anyone who would like to come, hopefully next year it'll be bigger than it was this year.

Um, they gave out book bags and uh school supplies.

Uh also um high school is starting to move.

Uh they're in there um today starting the um obestus removal.

Uh simplified the paving group.

I have received so many compliments as of yesterday regarding the paving that they've done.

And they said to tell them thank you over and over again.

And it's just not in my ward, but um also GCP throw where rim housing is they did the bridge and stuff over there, and people are so thankful for them and their um process they've done.

Uh and also arts and cultural, um they have money um for different projects.

They're asking that uh if you have a project that you need money from them that you try to get your application in um by October 30 first.

You can go into next year, but the fundings are weighing down, and sometimes it's too late for people to get funding.

So the earlier the better.

Uh and that'll be all today.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor.

Nothing this evening, Mayor.

Counselor Thorngate.

Uh wish I had more, but just uh happy to be back.

I don't know and haven't seen everybody for a couple weeks.

Um month of August was pretty busy for the Thorngate family, but um happy to be back.

Happy to see everybody, even my buddy here, the fights.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um also on September 7th, the Elm Grove Civics uh will be hosting an open house for their 100 year anniversary, and that's from five to seven at 21 Sycamore Avenue for the Civics.

Um in the last meeting, Ms.

Debmar brought up about us sitting here telling what we did.

What do we do?

And I thought about that a lot, and I thought I was gonna start making a list, and I started running out of paper for the last two weeks.

So, you know, I just want to reiterate, and I I don't want to speak for others, but I will in between these meetings, we do a lot of things.

Uh we answer a lot of complaints, we answer a lot of emails.

We direct complaints to the appropriate department heads.

You know, I usually go out and look at the complaint before I send it to building encodes uh or call the city manager.

Uh so there's a lot of those things to that we do are behind the scenes.

Uh the same with the ordinances that we get.

We have when we get first reading on it, gives us two weeks to research everything before we just come in and press the button.

So I want to let you know that's all being done, but to sit here and read it all would take too much time.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Uh we have reported committees.

We do have finance committee uh minutes from August 19, 2025.

Is there a motion to accept those?

I'll second it.

So any discussion or comments?

If not, all those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

And those opposed.

And those minutes are approved.

And now we have the report of the city manager, uh, Mr.

Heron.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, speaking of Semper Fi um paving, uh, they have begun the uh C D B G portion of their contract.

Um, excuse me, six out of the eight alleys have been completed.

Uh, we do anticipate uh that they should be able to complete their uh contract within the next uh few weeks.

Um a little bit of an update on the ohm run uh project.

Uh you recall that uh the city received an earmark uh through the U.S.

uh uh Corps of Engineers for engineering of the Ohm Run drainage area.

Uh that work is progressing to the point where we do have an overview map of the project area, and it will require some construction uh easements from the various property owners.

Uh so uh city staff uh because ultimately this, even though this will be a federally funded project, it is a city wheeling project.

Uh so we have been approaching uh effective property owners to gauge their interest and uh kind of go over uh what the uh game plan is for a uh temporary construction easement um so that all that can be secured uh once the engineering is completed and hopefully receive funding to uh do the elm run uh drainage uh improvement project.

So I just want to let you know that uh we talked about this a couple of weeks ago.

It is progressing, uh, but we also are out in the neighborhood talking to residents about the project.

Can I ask you a question just to double down on that?

When uh with ARPA funds, we had approved the enlarging the culprit that goes underneath Miller Street.

How does that tie in with this?

Are they gonna be two separate things or actually do them together?

Actually, the Elm Run uh project or the the Miller Avenue culvert project will be included in the Elm Run project.

So it does not have to be funded by uh ARPA funding.

Now we went through there and hired a contractor and dredged that out and has made a significant difference there, but ultimately that's covered under the uh uh Elm Run project, as are some of the backyard uh walls that were caved in as part of the storms this summer, those are also being evaluated for repair as well.

So uh yeah, it's a very comprehensive project, but it does focus on Elm Run itself and improving the drainage way as it is now.

So um, and then um on um September uh eight, or I'm sorry, September 16th, um at uh Wheeling University in the Troy Theater, there'll be the West Virginia uh substance use response plan community conversation.

Uh this is in cooperation with the uh West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Wheeling Police Department.

Uh Stephen Lloyd uh will be the moderator for this discussion again.

It's September 16th uh from uh four to six p.m.

at Wheeling University's Troy Theater, and it's a community conversation on substancy on the substance abuse response plan for the state of West Virginia.

And then you recall the city council approved a change order on the Valley View Storm Sanitary Sewer Project between uh the Duquesne and Eureka.

Uh that project will begin on Monday, September uh 8th.

There will be traffic disruptions in the area, and it will take about three weeks to complete.

So that project uh will begin.

That's the uh if you recall, that's the project where we had some sanitary uh sewer uh infiltration into a storm sewer.

We're gonna be correct.

That's my report.

Thank you.

Do we have any questions for city manager?

Yes, uh, just to piggyback on Mr.

Siler.

You said they were going to start replacing those high sodium bulbs with LEDs.

Is that going to raise our costs?

And what's the budgetary impact?

It is.

Um, what we are in discussions with uh AEP right now as to their outlining um an approximate number of lights they anticipate replacing at each year.

They're struggling to find uh parts for the high pressure sodium.

So any lights that are out are going to be converted to LED.

Uh so we don't have a number yet on that.

Uh and then uh periodically as lights go out, the high pressure sodiums are going to be converted as well.

There is going to be a budget impact.

We just found out today that they're that they can't uh that they don't want to uh fix the high pressure sodium.

So we're gonna be meeting with them in the next two weeks to get a budgetary impact on why that's thank you, Mr.

Heron.

Are these new LED lights more expensive than the high pressure?

They are yes.

Yeah, you would.

Um so the the tariff on the um high pressure sodium lights are is about not quite double what it or I'm sorry on the LED lights is not quite double at high pressure sodium.

But the electric usage has to be less than the other ones, correct?

It is, yes.

So can we work out a deal with them just to cover the difference in the cost of the light and the pound salt?

The tariff has been approved by the uh public service commission and it's statewide.

So we're it's not unique to Wheeling.

Statewide for AEP.

Moundsville's wrestling was the same problem.

We've had conversations with Moundsville about this very topic.

I I will say that um, in my opinion, um the light that is emulated from these LED lights is cleaner, it's brighter, and provides a better spacing than the high pressure sodium.

So if you drive through the neighborhoods, you'll see they are spotted around here.

So we appeal to the public service commission since we're being forced into this uh changeover.

Um I'll check, I'll check that.

I don't know the answer to that question.

We're we're being forced uh in in that they they're repairing the high pressure sodiums with uh LED because they're saying they can't find parts or that they're not coming in and saying we're just gonna do the whole city, but periodically or uh through time this whole city is going to be done because they're gonna go out.

So much do we pay per light today for the high pressure city?

Um approximately approximately six dollars and fifty cents a month.

The LEDs are in the I think don't don't hold me to this, but they're 15, 17 dollars.

They're they're much more expensive.

But again, I I'd have to look at the new the newest tariff on that.

Uh potentially, yes.

Yeah.

Thanks.

Any further questions, the city manager?

Thank you, Mr.

Heron.

Uh, we do have in front of us uh planning commission meeting minutes from July 14 of 2025, and the GWSCA minutes from June 24 of 2025.

Is there a motion to hold those over?

Second.

Any discussion?

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye, those opposed, and those minutes will be held over.

Petitions of redress or grievance.

There are none.

Petitions of all other kinds.

There are none.

Original propositions.

An ordinance authorizing the payment in full of the series 2025 notes if issued and the design acquisition, construction, and equipping of certain additions, betterments, and improvements to the waterworks portion and the sewerage portion of the existing combined waterworks and sewerage system of the city of Wheeling, and the financing of the cost thereof not otherwise provided through the issuance by the city of not more than 80 million in aggregate principal amount of combined waterworks and sewerage system improvement revenue bonds series 2025 tax exempt, providing for the rights and remedies of and the security for the registered owners of such bonds, authorizing the execution and delivery of a bond purchase agreement, a continuing disclosure agreement, tax certificate, tax compliance policy, continuing disclosure policy, and other documents relating to the bonds and enacting other provisions with respect to such bonds.

A resolution of the council of the city of Wheeling, approving invoices relating to the cleanup and remediation of 5819th Street property located in the city of Wheeling, West Virginia, and authorizing payment thereof.

Second, are there any questions or discussion?

If not, I'd ask all of you to record your vote, please.

That resolution is approved.

A resolution of the city of Wheeling, West Virginia declaring its official intent to reimburse expenditures in connection with the planning, design, acquisition, construction, and equipping of additions, betterments, and improvements to the city's potable water treatment, storage and distribution system, and sanitary sewer collection and treatment system made prior to issuance of tax exempt bonds notes or other obligations.

Move for adoption of resolution.

All second.

Once again, do we have questions or any discussion?

If not, please record your votes.

And that concludes original propositions.

Thank you.

Uh we're now at that point on the agenda where we ask those wishing to be heard.

Uh we do have Carly Dittmar.

Again, Carly, you know the rules here.

Please give us your name, address, and three.