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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Wheeling City Council Meeting - October 20, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, October 20, 2026
BodyWheeling, West Virginia
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, October 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 33:08

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Unassigned speaker

0:16

I

Speaker 1

0:16

now call the wheeling city council meeting of October 20, 2026 to order,

Unassigned speaker

0:21

and

Speaker 1

0:21

I would ask the clerk to please call the roll.

Speaker 2

0:23

Mr.

0:24

Sario.

0:24

Here.

0:25

Ms.

0:25

Kane here.

0:26

Hey, Amigrator.

Speaker 1

0:27

Here.

Speaker 2

0:27

Mr.

0:28

Palmer.

Speaker 1

0:28

Here.

Speaker 2

0:29

Siler.

Unassigned speaker

0:29

Mr.

Speaker 2

0:30

Sklavenakis.

0:31

And Mr.

Speaker 1

0:31

Thorngate.

Speaker 2

0:32

Quorum is present.

Speaker 1

0:34

Thank you.

0:35

We do have the minutes of the October 6th, 2026 meeting before us.

0:39

Is there a motion to accept those as received?

Speaker 3

0:41

So moved.

0:42

Second.

Speaker 1

0:43

Any discussion changes?

0:45

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

0:48

Aye.

0:48

Aye.

0:48

And those opposed by a like sign.

0:50

And those minutes will be uh accepted as received.

Unassigned speaker

0:54

Uh

Speaker 1

0:54

we're gonna move on to the mayor's report.

0:56

And uh couple things first.

0:58

Number one, uh I want to make sure people understand that uh we had a wonderful new business open last week in a former city property, the North Wheeling Firehouse, the vigilant bookstore.

1:09

Uh continued development of our North Wheeling neighborhood.

1:12

So if you haven't been there yet, please take a chance and stop.

1:15

They've done

Unassigned speaker

1:15

a

Speaker 1

1:16

marvelous job transforming an old firehouse into a new bookstore.

1:20

So first class.

1:22

Uh the other thing I do want to take a second and offer special thanks to our city solicitor and planning director for a phenomenal job that they did on the proposed data center regulation.

1:31

I know some folks thought that we weren't working on this, but those folks have been working on this.

1:35

I think rose more than three months.

1:37

And so I just want to say say thank

Unassigned speaker

1:39

you.

Speaker 1

1:39

Uh I think it's a good move in the right direction.

1:42

Uh the other thing tonight, I would like to make a couple committee appointments.

1:47

Uh number one, I I would ask that uh maybe Aaron George, we appoint our human rights commission.

1:54

Uh, and then I would also like to appoint Ricky Moore

Unassigned speaker

1:58

to

Speaker 1

1:58

the city's recreation commission.

2:00

Both are here tonight.

2:01

I would ask council for their blessing on these two appointments to their motion.

2:12

Is there any discussion?

2:14

Hearing none again, I'd ask for your vote.

2:16

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Unassigned speaker

2:18

Aye

Speaker 1

2:19

and those opposed.

2:20

Thank you very much.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation██████████████████████████████30%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████████24%
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Public Safety█████████9%
Community Engagement████████8%
Economic Development█████5%
Public Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Wheeling City Council Meeting - October 20, 2026

The Wheeling City Council met on October 20, 2026, to address a full agenda including a $20 million bond issuance for Oglebay Park improvements, numerous infrastructure and service contracts, and updates on city projects. The council also recognized the successful Washington Avenue Bridge celebration and made appointments to city commissions.

Public Hearing on Oglebay Park Bonds

  • James Cardell and Bob Peckinpaw, representing the Wheeling Park Commission, presented a proposal for a $20 million bond issuance (Series A: $9.8 million tax-exempt; Series B: $10.2 million) to fund renovations at Oglebay Park. The bonds are revenue bonds secured solely by park revenue and do not obligate the city or its taxpayers. Projects include: room renovations in the Bird Wing Lodge (with platform beds, expanded bathrooms, and outdoor living rooms), an indoor/outdoor pool addition, an adult-only outdoor lounge area, an arcade refresh, and life safety upgrades (sprinklers, makeup air). No questions from the public were recorded.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of the October 6, 2026 meeting were approved as received.
  • Seven ordinances (items 2-8) were approved en masse to enter into agreements and expend funds from CPPG fiscal year 2627 public services:
    • $80,000 to Russell Nesbitt Services Inc. for a new roof.
    • $42,500 to Youth Services Systems for exterior upgrades at March Recovery Home.
    • $10,000 to Catholic Charities for food delivery products.
    • $20,000 to Family Service for food, gasoline, and paper products.
    • $4,000 to House of the Carpenter for programming with Madison School.
    • $5,000 to Seeing Hand Association for workshop supplies.
    • $25,000 to Wheeling Health Right for pharmaceutical, dental, and diabetic supplies.

Discussion Items

  • Mayor's Report: Mayor noted the opening of Vigilant Bookstore in the former North Wheeling Firehouse. He thanked the city solicitor and planning director for their work on proposed data center regulations over the past three months. Council approved the appointment of Aaron George to the Human Rights Commission and Ricky Moore to the Recreation Commission. The mayor also thanked Councilor Thorngate and Vice Mayor Squab and Awkis for organizing a successful Washington Avenue Bridge party.
  • City Manager's Report (presented by Assistant City Manager Bill Land): Provided updates on paving (areas including Indian Point, North 16th, Hildreth, etc., expected completion by Friday). Electrical upgrades for Market Plaza light up night will begin October 26 and finish by October 30. FEMA pre-bid meetings for Evelyn Avenue slip (10 a.m.) and Glenwood Road (11 a.m.) will occur on October 21; bid openings October 30. Due to addenda, Greggsville Ballfield and I-470 bid openings moved to October 28. Water project bids (sluice gate, sludge dewatering) due November 12. Hemphill Tunnel engineering firm interviews set for October 28. Land reported break-ins and property damage at Vertical Lake Field and I-470 field; cameras, motion detectors, and cashless systems are being implemented.
  • Council Remarks: Councilor Palmer thanked all involved in the bridge celebration. Councilor Kane noted the dedication of the Sober Living Recovery Home on 23rd Street. Vice Mayor and Councilor Thorngate praised the Washington Avenue Bridge celebration, which drew hundreds of attendees, and urged continued support for businesses along the corridor. Thorngate expressed hope for an annual event.

Key Outcomes

  • Oglebay Park Bonds: Ordinance authorizing $20 million in Series 2026A and Series 2026B revenue bonds for Oglebay Park improvements was approved unanimously.
  • Nuttle Avenue Storm Sewer: Expenditure of $327,561.99 with Alex E. Paris Contracting approved.
  • West Benco Arena Club Lighting: $22,660 transfer from arena RCIP approved.
  • Police Headquarters Architect: $198,000 with MG Architects approved.
  • Water Meter Programming: $146,800 with Metron Farnier approved.
  • Fire Station Exhaust System: $350,428 with Magna Crib (reimbursed by AFG grant) approved.
  • Alley Vacation: Abandonment of a 12-foot alley in South Wheeling approved.
  • Intermodal Parking Garage System: $148,031.76 with Flash Parking approved.
  • Event Software for Parks: $34,706.52 with SHI International approved.
  • New Ordinances (approved) :
    • $19,250 for police department communications maintenance with end-to-end public safety.
    • Conveyance of 146 and 148 16th Street to Ohio Valley ADC.
    • $75,936.48 for lead service line database renewal with 120 Water.
    • Resolution to change the November 4, 2026 city council meeting location to Wheeling University campus (approved).

Appointments

  • Aaron George appointed to the Human Rights Commission.
  • Ricky Moore appointed to the Recreation Commission.

Public Comments

  • Carly Gidmar was called to speak, but no remarks were transcribed in the record.

Meeting Transcript

I now call the wheeling city council meeting of October 20, 2026 to order, and I would ask the clerk to please call the roll. Mr. Sario. Here. Ms. Kane here. Hey, Amigrator. Here. Mr. Palmer. Here. Siler. Mr. Sklavenakis. And Mr. Thorngate. Quorum is present. Thank you. We do have the minutes of the October 6th, 2026 meeting before us. Is there a motion to accept those as received? So moved. Second. Any discussion changes? Hearing not, I'd ask all those in favor to signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. And those opposed by a like sign. And those minutes will be uh accepted as received. Uh we're gonna move on to the mayor's report. And uh couple things first. Number one, uh I want to make sure people understand that uh we had a wonderful new business open last week in a former city property, the North Wheeling Firehouse, the vigilant bookstore. Uh continued development of our North Wheeling neighborhood. So if you haven't been there yet, please take a chance and stop. They've done a marvelous job transforming an old firehouse into a new bookstore. So first class. Uh the other thing I do want to take a second and offer special thanks to our city solicitor and planning director for a phenomenal job that they did on the proposed data center regulation. I know some folks thought that we weren't working on this, but those folks have been working on this. I think rose more than three months. And so I just want to say say thank you. Uh I think it's a good move in the right direction. Uh the other thing tonight, I would like to make a couple committee appointments. Uh number one, I I would ask that uh maybe Aaron George, we appoint our human rights commission. Uh, and then I would also like to appoint Ricky Moore

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