HELP SOUGHT — Weirton City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo discusses several issues during a council workshop held Tuesday. The city has applied for reimbursement funds through the federal C.A.R.E.S. Act to reimburse costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Craig Howell)

WEIRTON — City officials are hoping to be approved for a portion of West Virginia’s allotment of federal coronavirus relief funding.

“We submitted our first application on Friday,” Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich said during a council workshop Tuesday.

The federal C.A.R.E.S. Act established a relief fund of $150 billion, to be distributed among the states and territories to assist with expenditures incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To be eligible, the expense must have taken place from March 1 until Dec. 30 of this year.

According to Smoljanovich, the city had calculated approximately $9,000 in supplies and materials, as well as $1.7 million in wages for police and firefighters incurred as a result of steps taken by the city to reduce the spread of the virus.

West Virginia received $1.25 billion from the C.A.R.E.S. Act funds.

City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo noted the city initially was uncertain if it would qualify for any of the funding; however, after consulting with other communities, decided to apply.

Based on applications from other municipalities, he feels Weirton will be approved.

Future applications for funding also are planned, the city manager noted, as other opportunities for reimbursement have been found.

“We’ll probably do it every month, or every other month,” he said.

In related business, DiBartolomeo said he plans to have all city employees return to full duty Monday, although the Weirton Municipal Building will remain closed to the public for the time being. The exception will be on July 8 when municipal court has been scheduled.

The Millsop Community Center has reopened, with social distancing precautions in effect, and the Mary H. Weir Public Library has begun offering select services by appointment only as part of its phased reopening.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)