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Record of Proceedings

Wheeling City Council Meeting Summary - September 16, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, September 16, 2025
BodyWheeling, West Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 16, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 19:00

Transcript — Verbatim
2:27

Please rise.

2:33

Let us pray that we all may work together for the betterment of our city, respecting each other's perspectives and striving for fairness.

2:41

Let us seek wisdom and understanding as we make decisions that will impact all residents.

2:46

Let us pray for our city to have compassion and unity for all well-being.

3:18

Mr.

3:18

Asario?

3:19

Here.

3:20

Miss Kane?

3:20

Here.

3:21

Mayor McGruder?

3:22

Here.

3:22

Mr.

3:22

Palmer.

3:23

Here.

3:23

Mr.

3:23

Seidler.

3:24

Mr.

3:25

Slavonakis.

3:26

Mr.

3:26

Thorngate.

3:28

Quorum is present.

3:29

Thank you.

3:30

We have the September second, twenty twenty-five City Council minutes before us.

3:33

Is there a motion to accept?

3:35

So moved.

3:36

Second.

3:37

Any discussion changes?

3:40

If not, all those in favor, significant saying aye.

3:43

Aye.

3:43

Those opposed, same sign.

3:45

Motion approved.

3:48

Mayor, I would move to exit the regular order of business so we can conduct a public hearing on the fiscal year consolidated annual performance.

3:56

An evaluation report regarding the C D BG program.

4:06

Those opposed.

4:17

Any discussion.

4:18

All those in favor signal by saying aye.

4:20

Aye.

4:21

Those opposed.

4:22

And so we're now back to regular session.

4:24

We're down to the mayor's report, and I do not have a report this evening.

4:30

There is no clerk's report this evening.

4:57

Those opposed.

5:01

Uh remarks from council members, and I would ask counselor uh Ben Siler to begin tonight.

5:05

No remarks tonight, Mayor.

5:08

Counselor.

5:10

Um just one thing.

5:11

I would like to give a shout out to the Richie Town Renaissance 9-11 celebration, um, care and repair um group.

5:19

They did a wonderful job on helping people with their homes and painting and doing steps and uh cutting grass, and hopefully they will um continue to do more um in the coming year.

5:34

That's all.

5:35

Thank you.

5:36

Vice Mayor.

5:38

Councilor Thorne.

5:40

Nothing from me, and thanks.

5:41

Counselor Palmer.

5:42

Thank you, Mayor.

5:43

Tomorrow evening, 5 30 p.m.

5:45

Crime Watch from Ward 6 at the Algrove Civics.

5:48

Thank you.

5:49

Councilor Cero.

5:51

Nothing from me.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████████████████████31%
Homelessness██████████████████████22%
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Environmental Protection███████████11%
Parks and Recreation█████████9%
Public Safety██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Wheeling City Council Meeting Summary - September 16, 2025

The Wheeling City Council convened on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, for its regular session. After opening the meeting with a prayer and confirming a quorum, the Council approved the previous meeting's minutes, held a public hearing on the CDBG program, heard remarks from members and the city manager, and addressed numerous ordinances concerning infrastructure, water and sewer operations, and park improvements.

Consent Calendar

  • The minutes of the September 2, 2025, City Council meeting were approved by a unanimous voice vote.
  • Minutes from the Traffic Commission (August 14, 2025) and the Historic Landmarks Commission (August 7, 2025) were received and held over without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Council exited the regular order of business to hold a public hearing on the Fiscal Year Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The hearing was concluded and the Council returned to its regular session.
  • A member of the public, Monica Miles, was called to speak under "Wishing to be Heard," but the transcript concludes before her remarks begin.

Council Member Remarks

  • A council member praised the Richie Town Renaissance 9-11 care and repair group for their volunteer work painting homes, repairing steps, and cutting grass for residents.
  • Councilor Palmer announced that a Crime Watch meeting for Ward 6 will be held on the following evening at 5:30 PM at the Algrove Civics.
  • Councilor Fiber expressed strong frustration over issues at a playground in Fulton, reporting that a moved port-a-john and homeless encampments are creating unsanitary conditions. He called for a solution, including potentially locking the facility.

City Manager Report and Discussion Items

City/County Building Renovations: City Manager Heron stated that the next renovation phase will close the current council chambers (first floor) for three to five months, beginning between mid-October and December 2025. The Finance and Water Departments will relocate to the completed former police area. Council meetings will be held in the second or fifth floor courtrooms during this time.

Federal Flood Assistance: Manager Heron reported that President Trump declared the Father's Day flood event a disaster for Ohio County, making it eligible for FEMA public assistance. FEMA will begin its assessment on Thursday. The federal government will reimburse 75% of eligible costs. The city manager confirmed that debris removal from creeks is an eligible expense and is currently being coordinated with the state.

Oakleby Park Improvement Bonds: The City Manager introduced an ordinance authorizing up to $12 million in conduit revenue bonds for the Wheeling Park Commission to improve Wilson Lodge and the Good Zoo. He emphasized that the bonds carry no financial obligation or credit impact to the city. The ordinance requires three readings and a public hearing.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Emergency: Manager Heron requested and received an emergency second reading for an ordinance to contract T.S. Elliott Contracting LLC for $23,730 to replace failed ventilation units in the wastewater plant's bar screen room, citing it as an urgent safety issue.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved on Emergency Second Reading: Ordinance authorizing $23,730 to T.S. Elliott Contracting LLC for replacement ventilation units. The vote was recorded and passed without opposition.
  • Introduced on First Reading:
    • Ordinance for up to $80 million in Combined Waterworks and Sewerage System Improvement Revenue Bonds (Series 2025).
    • Ordinances to establish and update water and sewer rates.
    • Contract with Atlas Environmental Management ($18,080) for temporary frac tank rental.
    • Contracts with Hydraulic Services Inc. totaling $67,476.50 for gate cylinder purchases and rebuilding services.
    • Contract with Centrists (a Wisconsin firm) for $27,000 for centrifuge rental/purchase services.
    • Multiple contracts with Verdantis (formerly CT Consultants) for engineering services totaling $1.525 million:
      • $330,000 for Mozart and Clearview booster stations.
      • $433,000 for water treatment plant improvements.
      • $762,000 for water main improvements in Atlas, Carmel, Grandview, Opal, and Leewood.
    • Ordinance amending the Municipal Code to add a section on contempt of court.
    • Ordinance authorizing up to $12 million in Oakleby Park Improvement Revenue Bonds (Series 2025).

Meeting Transcript

Please rise. Let us pray that we all may work together for the betterment of our city, respecting each other's perspectives and striving for fairness. Let us seek wisdom and understanding as we make decisions that will impact all residents. Let us pray for our city to have compassion and unity for all well-being. Mr. Asario? Here. Miss Kane? Here. Mayor McGruder? Here. Mr. Palmer. Here. Mr. Seidler. Mr. Slavonakis. Mr. Thorngate. Quorum is present. Thank you. We have the September second, twenty twenty-five City Council minutes before us. Is there a motion to accept? So moved. Second. Any discussion changes? If not, all those in favor, significant saying aye. Aye. Those opposed, same sign. Motion approved. Mayor, I would move to exit the regular order of business so we can conduct a public hearing on the fiscal year consolidated annual performance. An evaluation report regarding the C D BG program. Those opposed. Any discussion. All those in favor signal by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed. And so we're now back to regular session. We're down to the mayor's report, and I do not have a report this evening. There is no clerk's report this evening. Those opposed. Uh remarks from council members, and I would ask counselor uh Ben Siler to begin tonight. No remarks tonight, Mayor. Counselor. Um just one thing. I would like to give a shout out to the Richie Town Renaissance 9-11 celebration, um, care and repair um group. They did a wonderful job on helping people with their homes and painting and doing steps and uh cutting grass, and hopefully they will um continue to do more um in the coming year. That's all. Thank you.

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