Warren Scott IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED — On Tuesday, Wellsburg Council approved the sale of up to $5.9 million in bonds to support improvements to the city’s water treatment plant and system.

WELLSBURG — On Tuesday, Wellsburg Council approved the sale of bonds to improve the city’s water treatment system and discussed matters involving the police department.

Council unanimously approved the first reading for the issue of up to $5,972,458 in bonds to be sold to repay a $4.9 million loan from the state Water Development Authority taken for replacement of water lines and electrical and other upgrades to the water plant.

Plans call for the city to replace aging, 4 inch water lines along Commerce, Charles and Main streets between Second and 12th streets with more durable 6 inch lines. The project also is set to include the replacement of hydrants there and installation of valves to prevent line breaks in that area from disrupting service to large portions of the city.

City Manager Steve Maguschak said pending the state’s approval, bids for the project will be sought in the spring.

In recent months to support the project, council also raised the city’s base water rate from $6.20 per 1,000 gallons to $6.94 per 1,000 gallons, with another increase to $8.68 per 1,000 gallons to go into effect after the work has begun.

In related business, council heard from resident Tammy Provenzano, who had complaints about the city’s water service and a lack of communication between city officials and residents regarding such matters.

Mayor Sue Simonetti said the city’s water-sewer board is the appropriate panel to hear her concerns and will meet at 5 p.m. Dec. 16 through the Zoom online application.

Those interested in addressing the board or listening should call (304) 737-2104 for log-in information.

Council also approved the $32,000 purchase of a new police cruiser and the promotion of Patrolman Kenneth Shuman to a full-time position with the department.

The police car was destroyed after it struck a utility pole along state Route 2 on Nov. 14.

The Brooke County Sheriff’s Department reported Shuman, its driver, was going to assist a deputy responding to an altercation in Follansbee when he lost control, resulting in it overturning twice.

City Police Chief Rich Ferguson said replacement of the vehicle and related equipment will be covered through the insurance claim on the disabled car and funds from the federal C.A.R.E.S. Act.

Second Ward Councilman Paul T. Billiard said he’s concerned about the speed at which the officer was traveling.

“We’re lucky this guy isn’t dead, let alone the car being totaled,” he said.

Ferguson said he and Brooke County Sheriff Scott Adams will discuss protocols for proper speed with his officers in the near future.

In related business, City Solicitor Ryan Weld said he’s still in talks with legal counsel for the Brooke County school board for a contract that would allow two of the city’s officers to serve as prevention resource officers.

Ferguson has suggested the two could be paid by the board for their service in the schools while the city pays for their hours outside them.

The arrangement is expected to be similar to that for a city officer already assigned to Brooke Middle School.

Ferguson also was asked for an update on a string of seemingly random acts of vandalism to nine businesses and homes and one church early Sunday.

“We’re still following a lot of trails, doing a lot of footwork in this,” he replied, adding it’s difficult to understand why storefront windows were broken but nothing appeared to be taken and houses appeared to be randomly targeted.

“It’s a difficult thing to assess, but I think we’re moving along on this.”

Ferguson has asked property owners on Charles, Main and Marianna streets between Sixth and 19th streets with video cameras to check their images for a stocky figure, apparently dressed in gray, in their areas.

Those and others with information should call (304) 737-1121.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)