Follansbee Council talks fire station, flood money
FOLLANSBEE -- Proposed renovations to the city's fire station, the impact of a state bill that would eliminate West Virginia's inventory tax and the status of federal aid to residents affected by flooding in 2016 were among matters before Follansbee Council on Monday.
Mayor David Velegol Jr. said after meeting with two potential engineers for the fire station project, council chose Matyskiela and Grant of Wheeling.
Pending negotiations with the firm this week, council is expected to consider a contract at next Monday's council meeting at 7 p.m.
The mayor suggested council members meet with him at the fire station in the near future to discuss the possible renovations.
City officials have mulled extending the firehouse south onto an adjacent lot owned by the city to accommodate the creation of larger bays for the department's vehicles, rooms for the repair and storage of equipment, a fitness room for city employees and a 720 square foot meeting room.
The project was spurred by concerns about the current station's deteriorating floor and the need for additional space for newer, larger fire vehicles.
A portion of the city's municipal sales tax, adopted in 2017, has been allocated for it.
In related business, City Manager John DeStefano said he will need an engineer's input before proceeding with a plan to address two retaining walls near the firehouse that are being eroded by water from Allegheny Creek.
DeStefano said one wall is crumbling and the other bowed and he hopes a 40 foot drainage structure can be built to convey the water away from them.
The two walls stand beneath the firehouse's former parking lot, much of which consisted of large sections of deck taken from the Market Street Bridge when the span was renovated in 1981.
DeStefano said he hopes the area can be covered with cement so the lot may be used again.
He said because the retaining walls are considered city property, they weren't repaired during the state Division of Highway's replacement of a deteriorating bridge beneath the nearby intersection of state Route 2 and Allegheny Street.
The creek was the source of major flooding on June 30, 2016, affecting more than 100 homes, 30 businesses and three churches.
On Monday council heard from Betty Quattrocchi, a resident of Mahan Avenue, who asked about relief for flood damages from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Quattrocchi said she was told it could take up to 36 months for her and other affected residents to receive aid but 39 months have since passed with no word from local, state or federal officials.
DeStefano said he's aware of a couple of homes that may be demolished through FEMA but he doesn't have information on about 15 others that had been submitted for assistance.
He said seeking the federal aid can be a lengthy process but the city has submitted the information that was requested of it.
Also on Monday, DeStefano reported on a recent West Virginia Municipal League meeting attended by him and other city officials.
DeStefano said the group, which is comprised of city officials from throughout the state, is monitoring pending legislation by state lawmakers.
Of particular concern is a bill, dubbed Senate Resolution 1, that would eliminate the tax on manufacturing business' inventory, machinery and equipment.
Supporters say the tax discourages business development, noting only one other state, Georgia, has one.
But many county and city officials, including Brooke County commissioners, have expressed concern about how that revenue would be made up.
DeStefano said the tax accounts for about 23 percent of the county's revenue, bringing in about $6 million.
Legislators supporting the measure have proposed cutting the tax in increments and pledged to make up for the lost revenue elsewhere, but Councilman at large John Casinelli said he is skeptical.
Casinelli said he's concerned legislators will cut funding from other services or allow county commissions to raise taxes on homes to offset the loss.
DeStefano said passage of the legislation requires an amendment to the state Constitution supported by a majority of the state Legislature and voters.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)