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.

Vice Mayor.

Councilor Thorne.

Nothing from me, and thanks.

Counselor Palmer.

Thank you, Mayor.

Tomorrow evening, 5 30 p.m.

Crime Watch from Ward 6 at the Algrove Civics.

Thank you.

Councilor Cero.

Nothing from me.

Okay, Mr.

Fiber.

Uh at the playground down in Fulton, um, the Porter John has been moved um down there due to do some complaints, but the uh the homeless folks down there are uh making a mess of that.

Um and it's uh it's kind of all over the place down there by that business.

So we need to figure out how to put that thing somewhere back closer to the playground where it was, but also get it under control.

I'm not exactly sure what the answer is there, but you know, I'm I'm my frustrations are clearly growing as uh everybody else's are the well.

So I'm not sure if that thing can be locked up somehow um when it's not in use.

I don't really know the logistics of that.

I don't have a good solution other than it's uh it's just it's kind of getting ridiculous.

I don't know how to get this situation under control, but have to do something soon.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Report of committees.

There are none.

Uh report of the city manager, Mr.

Heron.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, under uh original propositions this evening on item number 12, which is a um Oklahoma Park Improvement Revenue Bond series uh 2025.

I'm gonna talk a little bit about uh what what's uh proposed in that ordinance.

Uh back in the 1980s, uh the federal tax code allowed for economic development agencies and other nonprofits to uh issue what were called uh industrial revenue bonds, which were were geared towards tax exempt financing to help industrial expansion, and cities uh and counties were required to uh be the conduit for those revenue bonds.

There was no uh obligation of the city or the county at the time.

It was just a mechanism to provide tax exempt financing to for an industrial or a commercial uh qualifying project.

The tax code changed in 1986, the tax exempt status of those type of revenue bonds changed.

They weren't they're still being utilized, but they weren't utilized nearly as much as they were in the early 1980s, but the law still exists.

So the Wheeling Park Commission uh is requesting that city council take advantage of what has what that law has morphed into and issue uh revenue bonds as a conduit for uh projects that they want to do at Oakleby Park.

Uh these funds would be utilized for improvements to Wilson Lodge as well as to the good zoo.

Um the uh there is no obligation uh on be on behalf of the city.

Uh we're not responsible for the payment of these bonds.

It will have no impact on the credit.

It's just a mechanism to provide this financing to a qualifying entity of which the Wheeling Park Commission is.

Uh it will require three readings, and there will be a public hearing prior to city council consideration of third and final reading, and representatives of the Wheeling Park Commission will be at that public hearing to talk a little bit more about uh what they're proposing.

This would be if council approves this ordinance after three readings.

This would be the third time the city council has uh uh assisted the Wheeling Park Commission with various projects in the last 20 years.

So there'll be plenty of opportunity if you have any questions um you know between now and the public hearing, feel free to let me know, and I'd be happy to uh put you in contact with the park commission uh lawyers.

Uh they are using a uh bond council that we're familiar with, and Fred Williams and Jim Gardill is their legal counsel working with our bond counsel, uh John Stump and our city solicitor Rose uh Humway Warman.

Um the city county building renovations continue.

Um the next uh major uh floor to be done is the first floor where we're sitting now.

Um it could occur as early as mid-October, in which case the uh finance department, the water department will be relocated to the first floor former police department area where city uh administrative offices were for several months.

City council chambers will be closed.

Um, and uh city council meetings will be held on either the second or the fifth floor courtroom.

When this building was or when this room was being renovated into a council chambers, council at the time did meet in those courtrooms and it went fine.

Um, you know, we're anticipating mid-October, but based on construction, how things go and how this project has gone thus far, it could be anywhere from mid-October to uh sometime in December.

It could be anywhere from mid-October to uh sometime in December.

But at some point in time, this room will be closed.

The finance department and water department will be relocated.

Uh we do anticipate that uh relocation closure to last three to five months.

So the good news is the uh the former police department area is completed.

So that that area they're gonna be the finance department and water department are gonna be in moving into an area that is not under construction and has been completed.

Um so that's that's uh something to look forward to.

Um the President Trump did uh last week uh declare the uh Father's Day um flood event uh in Ohio County as well as Marion County, uh, West Virginia for uh public assistance.

We've already uh met with uh uh FEMA's or I'm sorry, we've already met with the West Virginia Emergency Management Agency on their briefing on uh how to proceed with this, and FEMA will be in town to uh begin their assessment process on Thursday.

So um we do anticipate receiving public assistance for the debris removal.

Uh we've had some parks that were damaged, we had some bridges that were damaged, so you know, we feel as though those projects will qualify and at some point we will get reimbursement.

FEMA reimbursement is 75% of the cost uh in the uh for the April 2024 flood.

The state of West Virginia picked up the other 25%.

I don't know whether they're going to do that in this event or not, but uh if not, then the you know the city's already expended most of the funds, and we will be reimbursed uh up to 75% of our expenses.

And then finally, original propositions uh uh uh this evening, uh the TS Elliott, the ventilation uh ordinance.

I would respectfully request uh two readings on this.

This is a ventilation system at the wastewater treatment uh system plant that has failed and it is a safety issue, and we'd like to get this work done as soon as possible.

So again, I would request uh two readings on that ordinance this evening.

That's my report.

Thank you.

Do we have any questions?

The city manager.

Yes, well, when they're in town, and I know FEMA is a little bit different and everything else, but what about the debris removal for the creeks?

That was uh that was discussed uh yesterday in our meeting with the state, and uh it will be uh part of the assessment that's uh conducted by uh FEMA in conjunction with the state of West Virginia.

I I don't have an answer as to when that's going to be done, but it was brought up in and it is an eligible expense, just figuring out who's gonna do it and how it's gonna be paid for.

Okay, because not only I mean it's clean, but I don't think they dredge anymore, but it need to be clear.

Yeah, I think that's big problem.

Thank you.

Mr.

Heron, how much did we receive much damage at our our waste treatment facility from the floods this spring?

Well, we did not.

We didn't receive any damage in this spring.

Thanks.

Any other questions?

Uh thank you, Mr.

Heron.

Uh, under the report of other officers, we do have uh sets of minutes from the traffic commission uh from August 14 of 2025, and the HLC minutes from August 7 of 2025.

Is there a motion to hold those over?

So moved.

Any discussion?

If not, all those in favor signify saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, and we will hold those over.

Petitions of redress and grievances.

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 bond 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.

An ordinance establishing and fixing water rates fees and charges of the city of Wheeling, West Virginia, and proposing the construction of water improvements for the city's water division, an ordinance establishing and fixing sewer rates fees and charges of the city of Wheeling, West Virginia, and approving the construction of sewer improvements for the water pollution control division.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds and amount of $18,080 with Atlas Environmental Management of Youngstown, Ohio for the rental of two temporary frack tanks to be charged to water pollution control division.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of 330,000 with Verdantis, formerly CT consultants of Wheeling, West Virginia for professional engineering services for Mozart and Clearview booster stations to be charged to water.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of 433,000 with Ferdantis, formerly CT consultants of Wheeling, West Virginia for professional engineering services for the water treatment plants led to watering to be charged to water.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of 762,000 with Verdantis, formerly CT consultants of Wheeling, West Virginia for professional engineering services for Atlas Carmel, Grandview, Opal B.

Leewood, water made improvements to be charged to water.

An ordinance authorizing and directing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of $32,114 with Hydraulic Services Inc.

of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the purchase of primary gate cylinders to be charged to water pollution control division.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of $35,362.50 with Hydraulic Services Inc.

of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for rebuilding services of secondary gate to be charged to water pollution control division.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of $23,730 with TS Elliott contracting LLC at Wellsburg, West Virginia for replacement ventilation units for bar screen room to be charged to water pollution control division.

I'd move for a second reading this ordinance due to safety concerns.

I'll second that.

Is there any discussion?

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

Aye.

Those opposed.

And we'll have a second reading.

An ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend funds in the amount of $23,730 with TS Elliott contracting LLC of Wellsburg, West Virginia for replacement ventilation units for bar screen room to be charged to water pollution control division.

Hearing none, I would ask each of you to record your vote, please.

An ordinance of the Council of the City of Wheeling, amending and reenacting Article 191 of the Administrative Code of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Wheeling, entitled Municipal Court to add Article 191.11, contempt of court.

An ordinance authorizing the issuance of not more than 12 million aggregate principal amount of Oakleby Park Improvement Revenue Bonds Series 2025 for the financing of a portion of the cost of certain improvements to facilities located at Oakleby Park, providing for the cost of issuance of the above bonds, providing for the rights and remedies of and security for the registered owners of such bonds, authorizing the sale and providing for the terms and provisions of such bonds and enacting other provisions relating thereto.

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

And that concludes original propositions.

Is there any discussion?

We can do that if you all prefer.

We were going to stay in the regular process for more.

Okay.

Can you withdraw your motion?

Thank you, sir.

All right, we're going to move to those wishing to be heard.

And uh with that, first we're going to call Monica Miles, please.

Monica, would you come forward to the podium?

Give us your name, address, and you have three minutes.

Monica here.

Yes.

Would you please step forward to our podium and give us your name and address and purpose for speaking?

Yes.