WEIRTON -- A possible new speed patrol trailer, along with budgetary items and office equipment were among issues discussed Wednesday by the city's Finance Committee and set to be presented for a vote to Weirton Council Monday.
Public Works Director Rod Rosnick explained the city had received four proposals for the speed trailer, ranging in cost from $7,500 to $12,000. The unit being sought comes at a cost of $8,507.
The purchase comes as the latest effort by city officials to crack down on speeding in Weirton, which has included a pilot program for rumble strips and speed bumps on select streets.
"I think the Traffic Commission already has 10 roads they want to put it on," Rosnick said.
Rosnick explained the model of speed trailer is able to not only monitor the speed of vehicles, but record data on the number of cars speeding through the area.
Members of council who serve on the Finance Committee acknowledged there are problems which need addressed, with Ward 7 Councilmember Terry Weigel saying he knows of incidents on Circle Drive, adding he feels most are of residents of the area.
"Why would you endanger your friends and neighbors?" he said.
Ward 6 Councilman Enzo Fracasso said he has similar situations on Bell Boulevard.
The Finance Committee decided against recommending a facility services rental service agreement with Cintas Corp. for floor mats in the Municipal Building, at a cost of $60.90 bi-weekly.
"There's a local company that does this," Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh said, referring to the Hancock County Sheltered Workshop.
When asked by the committee, Assistant City Manager DeeAnn Pulliam indicated no bids were sought on the item.
Cintas Corp. is a national firm headquartered in Cincinnati.
"If we have a business in town that can supply what we need, we need to look into it," Fracasso said.
The committee also opted not to recommend a proposed salary ordinance amendment, establishing new salary levels for non-union, general fund employees. No details on the ordinance were offered, with officials noting it covered personnel matters and would be discussed in executive session during Monday's council meeting.
Council will be presented with revisions to the 2020-21 fiscal general fund budget and the coal severance budget.
Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich explained some of the changes for the current year's general fund were revenue related, in particular with the city's Business and Occupation Tax.
"It's coming in higher than we anticipated," she said, adding, however, the city's sale tax numbers were lower than projected.
Smoljanovich noted changes also were needed as a result of the planned purchases of the speed trailer and the office equipment.
The revision to the coal severance budget was to use $24,000 toward the purchase of a new cruiser for the Weirton Police Department.
Other items set to go before council Monday are:
A resolution for the Independence Day fireworks display, in the amount of $17,000
An agreement for the shared operations and maintenance program for the Harmon Creek Watershed, at $10,000, which covers 13 dams.
A contract for the purchase of multifunction imagining systems for various city departments in the amount of $42,699.91.
A resolution for the B-21 Community Development Block Grant at $417,720
A resolution for repairs to a 2017 Ford F-550 sanitation truck at a cost of $8,507.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)