CHANGES COMING — Weirton Planning and Development Director Mark Miller points out some of the proposed changes to the municipal ward boundaries during a special council meeting Wednesday. Adjustments to the city’s wards are being made in preparation for the 2024 municipal election. - Craig Howell

WEIRTON — There are still several months before any candidates can officially declare for Weirton’s mayor and members of council, but city officials are in the process of making preparations for the next municipal election, which will see some changes in which seats represent what areas of the city.

As part of a charter change ordinance approved by council, and given the blessing of voters, during the 2019 city election, the city’s election schedule was realigned to follow that of the nation’s presidential election with the next one to now take place in 2024.

“We now need to align the council ward boundaries with the county precincts,” explained city Planning and Development Director Mark Miller.

The city is working with county election officials and the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office to establish new procedures for the municipal election, which officials say will feature only a general election in November, with the counties overseeing most of the election’s operations.

During a special council meeting Wednesday, Miller provided council with a brief overview of some of the possible changes.

Among those adjustments are more than 300 voters living on Weir Avenue will be moved into Ward 4 from their current Ward 1. Some neighborhoods will move from Ward 2 to Ward 7, with Miller noting that would include the residence of current Ward 2 Councilman Chris Jonczak.

The northern portion of Colliers Way would move from Ward 7 to Ward 3, Miller said.

Brooke County, Miller said, will have a little more work as two of its current precincts have areas both in and out of the city limits. He said the recommended course will be to subdivide those precincts — 24 and 36 — to help ensure non-city residents don’t vote in the city election.

Under the city’s charter, wards originally were drawn with detailed descriptions using a variety of landmarks. The new boundaries will follow existing lines provided by the counties for their precincts and magisterial districts.

“It lays out the wards better with county precincts,” City Manager Mike Adams said.

Miller said overlaying with the county precincts, while requiring some adjustments, was felt to be the better option.

“It was either that or we hire a surveyor to survey the entire city,” Miller said. “It’s what we have to do.”

Miller and Adams explained they are in communication with the Secretary of State’s Office for every aspect of the changes.

Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh asked if there a time to make the map effective, and what methods residents would be notified.

“I think you’re going to have all sorts of confusion at the polls,” he said.

The first reading of the ordinance to set the new boundaries will go before council on Monday.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)