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FOLLANSBEE -- On Monday, Follansbee Council learned one of two structures along Allegheny Creek will be razed in the near future while city officials are still working to determine rate increases needed to support upgrades to the city's water treatment system.
Councilman at large John Casinelli said plans call for a house at 539 Allegheny St. with a driveway over the creek is scheduled to be demolished today.
He said the two-story brick building that stands over the creek at 531 Allegheny St. Is expected to be removed later this summer.
Both buildings were acquired by the city through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's buyout program.
The program's purpose is to prevent the federal agency from paying multiple times for damages sustained by flood-prone properties.
But the move also helps to reduce the risk of flood from the creek, which flows through a culvert extending under state Route 2 to the Ohio River.
A buildup in the creek of debris and trash, combined with heavy rainfall, has resulted in extensive flooding from the creek as recently as 2016, when more than 100 homes, 30 businesses and three churches were affected.
Following the meeting, Mayor David Velegol was asked about a hydrological study of the creek by the Army Corps of Engineers that was announced earlier.
Velegol said the study was delayed by changes in staffing at the agency but is set to move forward.
He said the study's primary goal is to determine whether runoff from the adjacent hillside is a significant contributor to the floods.
Council has agreed to provide $40,000 in city funds for the study, matching funds put up by the Army Corps of Engineers.
The mayor said meanwhile, City Fire Chief Larry Rea and City Street Superintendent Steve Meca have been monitoring the creek regularly for large debris and trash that have caused the culvert to be blocked.
During the meeting, Velegol said he wished to dispel rumors he was trying to delay a project involving major improvements to the city's water treatment plant.
"There's no one who wants to get the water project moving more than me," he said.
Velegol said he, City Manager Jack McIntosh and City Attorney Michael Gaudio have maintained communication with the Army Corps of Engineers, which awarded a $3.1 million grant for the project.
He said under the grant's terms, the Army Corps of Engineers will advertise for bids and select a contractor to replace several main lines and complete upgrades to the water treatment plant.
A 25 percent match required of the grant was met with property easements and right of way.
In related business, McIntosh said he's in talks with the Washington Pike Public Service District about new rates to be paid by customers in the Cross Creek area who receive water from the city.
In recent months, the city manager has discussed the need for rate increases for all customers to offset the loss of Mountain State Carbon as a major water customer, pay off $280,000 from an earlier loan and replace about $1 million in water meters.
Following the meeting, McIntosh said the city will seek additional grant money from the Army Corps of Engineers.
Velegol said since receiving McIntosh's resignation, effective July 29, he has placed ads for a new city manager in local newspapers and heard from four candidates for the position.
The mayor is expected to present an individual for council's consideration in the future.