FOLLANSBEE -- Follansbee Council has moved forward with plans to purchase and raze a building that sits over Allegheny Creek and pursue emergency repairs to a damaged sewer line in the creek near Blosser Lane.
On Monday council agreed to purchase the brick building near the intersection of Allegheny and Main streets from Charles Denny for about $28,000, with the city to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The building stands over a culvert through which Allegheny Creek flows to the Ohio River.
Last month council approved the $32,000 purchase of a home just east of it with a driveway over the creek.
Removal of both structures are seen as a means to prevent the culvert from becoming clogged and resulting, during heavy rainfall, in substantial flooding as recently as 2016.
In related business, at a special meeting Friday, council authorized Ghosh Engineering to design a cost-effective way to address a damaged sewer line in the creek further east near Blosser Lane.
City Manager John DeStefano said temporary repairs have been made to the line until a more permanent fix can be determined.
The Charleston engineering firm has been hired by the city to plan more than $1.8 million in upgrades to the city's water and wastewater treatment systems.
In other business, council members learned organizers of the city's Christmas light-up night may need to adjust their plans to deter spread of COVID-19.
DeStefano said the Brooke County Health Department has advised the county may see a spike in cases by Dec. 5, when it's planned. Officials with the department have reported a rise in cases in recent weeks.
The event normally is limited to the singing of Christmas carols by candlelight and a visit by Santa Claus outside the City Building, where refreshments were served. But there had been talk of expanding it to include other activities.
It's not clear whether a proposed Christmas parade, planned for Dec. 12 by the Follansbee Community Days committee, will be affected.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)