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Record of Proceedings

Wheeling City Council Meeting Summary - December 2, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, December 2, 2025
BodyWheeling, West Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, December 2, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 18:03

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0:01

At this moment, I would like to take a moment of silence and regard to our Western National Guard member Sarah Beckham who lost her life in Andrew Holmes.

0:24

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

0:32

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

0:37

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

0:41

Amen.

0:42

Amen.

0:44

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:51

One nation under God and individual with liberty and justice for all.

1:05

Good evening, and we will now call uh the regular council meeting for December 2, 2025 to order, please.

1:11

What would you please call the roll?

1:13

Mr.

1:13

Azara?

1:14

Here.

1:14

Ms.

1:15

Kane?

1:15

Here.

1:15

Mayor McGruder?

1:16

Here.

1:17

Mr.

1:17

Palmer.

1:17

Here.

1:18

Mr.

1:18

Sidley.

1:19

Here.

1:19

Mr.

1:19

Slavonakis.

1:20

Present.

1:21

And Mr.

1:21

Thorngate.

1:22

Here.

1:22

Quorum is present.

1:23

Thank you.

1:24

We have the minutes before us from November 18 of 2025.

1:28

Is there a motion to accept those as received?

1:30

So moved.

1:30

Second.

1:31

Is there any discussion?

1:33

Changes, additions?

1:34

If not, I'd ask all those in favor to signify by saying aye.

1:37

Aye.

1:38

And those opposed.

1:39

And the minutes are uh received accepted as received.

1:43

Uh next, we have the mayor's report.

1:45

Uh, a couple brief things.

1:46

Number one, we want to give a sincere thanks to the Wheeling Area Chamber in the Parade Committee for a fabulous 40th Festival of Lights Anniversary Parade that took place a couple Fridays ago.

1:56

Uh, it was nice to see it go back through downtown again, and uh uh there was a pretty nice crowd there, and we hope that next year it'll even grow to a bigger thing.

2:04

We also want to say special thanks to Michelle Michelle Rajonis from our team here and her crew uh for their efforts at Light Up Night up on the plaza.

2:12

It was another great event and a kickoff to our Christmas season.

2:15

And then finally, we want to give a special thank you to Rochelle Berry, our director of recreation, uh, for her efforts on the turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning.

2:24

Some of you were out there at Wheeling University.

2:26

It was a great morning, and and thanks to the staff.

2:28

Many many were there.

2:29

So just want to say thank you for all of that.

2:32

Uh, we got a special honor tonight.

2:33

It's kind of an athletic night.

2:35

We've got two proclamations, one for Mr.

2:37

Akeem Davis and the other for the Wheeling Central girls' soccer team.

2:41

And uh prior to reading those, we say congratulations to both.

2:44

I'm gonna read these proclamations.

2:46

Akeem, uh, yours is on top here.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████████████36%
Arts And Culture█████████9%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Summary of Proceedings

Wheeling City Council Meeting Summary - December 2, 2025

The Wheeling City Council convened on December 2, 2025, to accept minutes, honor local athletic achievements, approve zoning and funding ordinances, and address municipal reports including the delayed closure of the Washington Avenue Bridge and the withdrawal of a land conservation grant application.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Acceptance: The minutes from the November 18, 2025 City Council meeting were moved and seconded, accepted as received by voice vote.
  • Traffic Commission Minutes: The minutes from September 11, 2025, held over from a previous session, were accepted as received by voice vote.
  • Planning Committee Minutes: The minutes from the November 18, 2025 Finance Committee meeting were accepted as received by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Councilor Siler: Asked the City Manager to explore potential aid programs for businesses affected by the Washington Avenue Bridge closure, similar to the Streetscape program.
  • Vice Mayor: Expressed gratitude to the community for participating in the "Turkey Trot" and thanked the Wheeling Jaycees, Park and Recreation Director, and City Clerk for their roles.
  • Public Inquiry (Unidentified Speaker): Inquired about pedestrian access during the bridge demolition and the removal of commemorative plaques; the City Manager confirmed the bridge will remain closed to all traffic (including pedestrians) and that plaques will be removed prior to demolition.

Discussion Items

  • Proclamations: Mayor McGruder recognized Mr. Akeem Davis from Wheeling Park High School for a nationally featured football play and the Wheeling Central Catholic High School girls' soccer team for winning the 2025 West Virginia State Championship. Both groups were invited to receive awards and participate in a group photo.
  • Parking Ordinance: An ordinance creating a 30-minute parking zone in front of 2518 Chaplin Street (Monday–Friday, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.) was presented and adopted.
  • Castin Baker Project: Council discussed an ordinance authorizing $473,149 for the Phase I earthwork and planting at Robrec Park. Councilman Harry explained that Phase I is environmental remediation necessary for the brownfield site to enable Phase II, a $1.7 million project funded by the West Virginia Department of Transportation.
  • City Manager's Report (Hidden):
    • Washington Avenue Bridge: Confirmed the bridge closure was delayed by weather; demolition is not expected to begin for a few weeks. The bridge will be completely demolished, with no pedestrian access during the closure. Completion is anticipated in October 2026.
    • Landwater Conservation Grant: Resolved to withdraw Proposition #4. The City Manager stated that due to recent rule changes requiring more detailed deed documentation and existing issues with the property deed, the city cannot meet the submission deadline for this cycle.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous Approval: Adoption of the 30-minute parking zone ordinance for 2518 Chaplin Street.
  • Unanimous Approval: Adoption of the ordinance authorizing expenditure of $473,149 with Castin Baker for the Robrec Park Phase I project.
  • Unanimous Approval: Adoption of the resolution proposing the "Food for Fines" donation process in lieu of overtime parking fines.
  • Withdrawn: Proposition #4 (Landwater Conservation Grant application) was moved, seconded, and officially withdrawn from the agenda.
  • Decommissioning Plan: Confirmation that the Washington Avenue Bridge will be fully demolished and plaques removed prior to demolition, with no pedestrian access allowed during the closure period.

Meeting Transcript

At this moment, I would like to take a moment of silence and regard to our Western National Guard member Sarah Beckham who lost her life in Andrew Holmes. 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 unpack all residents. Let us pray for our city to have compassion and unity for all well-being. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God and individual with liberty and justice for all. Good evening, and we will now call uh the regular council meeting for December 2, 2025 to order, please. What would you please call the roll? Mr. Azara? Here. Ms. Kane? Here. Mayor McGruder? Here. Mr. Palmer. Here. Mr. Sidley. Here. Mr. Slavonakis. Present. And Mr. Thorngate. Here. Quorum is present. Thank you. We have the minutes before us from November 18 of 2025. Is there a motion to accept those as received? So moved. Second. Is there any discussion? Changes, additions? If not, I'd ask all those in favor to signify by saying aye. Aye. And those opposed. And the minutes are uh received accepted as received. Uh next, we have the mayor's report. Uh, a couple brief things. Number one, we want to give a sincere thanks to the Wheeling Area Chamber in the Parade Committee for a fabulous 40th Festival of Lights Anniversary Parade that took place a couple Fridays ago. Uh, it was nice to see it go back through downtown again, and uh uh there was a pretty nice crowd there, and we hope that next year it'll even grow to a bigger thing. We also want to say special thanks to Michelle Michelle Rajonis from our team here and her crew uh for their efforts at Light Up Night up on the plaza. It was another great event and a kickoff to our Christmas season. And then finally, we want to give a special thank you to Rochelle Berry, our director of recreation, uh, for her efforts on the turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning. Some of you were out there at Wheeling University.

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