Wellsburg City Hall, Town Square receiving a facelift

WELLSBURG -- Efforts to improve Wellsburg City Hall and the adjacent Town Square were among matters discussed by Wellsburg Council on Tuesday.

City Manager Steve Maguschak advised the new front entrance to City Hall is nearly complete, with hand railing for the new front steps and handicap accessible ramp expected to arrive in the near future.

Council allocated $71,691 for the project, which involved replacing deteriorating steps and adding the ramp from the building's east side.

An electronic sliding door was added previously.

Until the front entrance is reopened, visitors to the building may enter through a rear entrance that isn't handicap accessible.

Alex Weld, who chairs the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority, told council crews have applied weedkiller to the square, the first step in a major facelift to the area that will include leveling brick pavers extending along it between Charles and Main streets and the addition of hexagonal picnic tables, chairs and trash receptacles.

The project is being funded by a $15,000 grant from the American Association of Retired Persons secured by the volunteer group. The grant doesn't require a local match.

Weld added a Wheeling artist has been recruited to paint murals on the windows of adjacent vacant buildings.

The group also has secured a $70,000 grant to hire architects, engineers and financial consultants to determine how buildings at 701 Charles St., 75 Seventh St. and 67 Seventh St. may be renovated and marketed for future use.

The redevelopment authority acquired the three buildings for $100 for that purpose.

Weld said there are plans to invite developers to a meeting where possible commercial uses for them will be discussed.

She asked council to allocate $15,000 to the group, saying it's needed to provide local matches for grants and acquire other properties.

Since the board was formed, council has allocated money from its economic development fund for it, though not every year.

Fourth Ward Councilman Charlie Harris said while he appreciates the board's efforts, it was his understanding when it was formed that it would be self-supporting.

"We only wanted you to tear down dilapidated buildings," Harris told Weld and fellow URA member Frank Johnson.

Johnson replied that the URA has succeeded in having structures razed and is working on others.

Weld said the group will be submitting such properties for possible inclusion in the city's redevelopment plan in hopes the city may receive funds for demolition through a new program of the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Harris said financial commitments to the URA and the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle, of which the city is a member, have come at a time when the city lacked funds for street paving.

During the meeting, he asked if North High Street can be paved, possibly in conjunction with a water line replacement project that could be supported by federal American Recovery Act funds disbursed to the city.

Second Ward Councilman Paul Billiard interjected with, "If there's any money to be spent right now, it should be to get Mrs. Pepe her water right now."

Billiard referred to Mary Kay Pepe and other residents of 22nd Street Extension who have complained of extremely weak water pressure to their homes.

Following the meeting, Maguschak said the city lacks funds to replace a narrow water line serving the street and the proposed project has been complicated by the fact the line runs under some homes.

But the city manager said he is looking into possible funding sources and other remedies.

Maguschak said the estimated cost exceeds about $412,000 remaining from the city's ARA funds. He said about $705,810 of it has been used or allocated for paving and water line replacements along Main, Charles and Commerce streets; upgrades to the water and wastewater treatment systems and a contribution for upgrades to the county's emergency 911 dispatch system.

In other business:

● City Police Chief Mike Allman said he will ask council to replace several video cameras in the city, including old ones found at city parks, where vandalism has been a problem.

Third Ward Councilman Tom Gaudio asked for steel doors to be installed at the restrooms and storage building at the Betty Carr Recreation Site to prevent them from being broken into.

● Council received a complaint about abandoned vehicles and other junk on a property on Church Street, and Gaudio said rats have been seen near a vacant house on Marianna Street.

Allman said the owners of properties have been summoned to appear in court.

● Council granted several requests for the use of city property, including the 18th Street Park for a bonfire for the Junior Bruins football program today; Charles Street from 26th Street to Fifth Street for the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce's Christmas party on Nov. 25; and Central Park for the Winter Wonderland Hometown Holiday Market event to be held Dec. 10 by the Friends of Wellsburg Parks.

● Council set Halloween trick or treating hours at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.