Playground moving forward in Wellsburg, city clerk appointment delayed
Trending
WELLSBURG -- Wellsburg Council moved ahead with the acquisition of new playground equipment for the Betty Carr Recreation Site on Tuesday while delaying the appointment of a new city clerk, citing a conflict of interest.
Council approved the $129,609 purchase of the equipment from Cunningham Recreation of Charlotte, N.C., after hearing from Norm Schwertfeger, an independent grant writer for the city who said a $50,000 federal Land and Water Conservation grant and other public funds and donations have been secured for it.
Schwertfeger said the equipment will include a large playset with climbing structures and a slide as well as swings and other separate features, including some designed for students on the autism spectrum.
He said a couple of the swings will be designed for children with special needs and a wheelchair-accessible rubber-like surface will be applied to the ground while the rest will be covered with wood fibers.
Schwertfeger said it will take between 12 and 15 weeks to install the equipment and a week is needed to cure the rubber-like surface, so the work isn't expected to begin until spring.
A kickoff event for the project has been set for noon on Oct. 30 at the park, which is near Main and 17th streets.
Schwertfeger said an illustration of the new equipment will be displayed then and possible plans for other parks shared then.
The new equipment will replace a slide and other structures that were removed months ago because they were deemed unsafe.
This summer, Hannah Ferguson, a Brooke High School senior, restored the Mickey Mouse pole there for her senior project with support from 3rd Ward Councilman Tom Gaudio; 4th Ward Councilman Fred Marino; the Wellsburg Lions Club; her grandfather, Rich; uncle, Cory; Scott Gallagher and the Parr family.
In other business, council tabled the appointment of a city clerk, a position that involves taking minutes at council meetings and overseeing the city's elections.
Council had mulled gathering to interview three applicants for the job.
But 3rd Ward Councilman Randy Fletcher said since the position was changed from elected to appointed in the last election, it falls to City Manager Steve Maguschak to fill it.
But 4th Ward Councilman Charlie Harris noted one of the applicants is Mikeal Maguschak, the city manager's son, creating a conflict of interest.
"It's nothing against the individual," said Harris.
Steve Maguschak suggested Mayor Dan Dudley perform the task, noting the city charter allows the mayor to assume the city manager's duties when needed.
City Solicitor Ryan Weld said it appears that only applies to situations when the city manager is absent, but he will investigate it further.
Dudley expressed frustration at the delay, saying it seemed like the position may not be filled until his current term is up in three years.
In other business:
≤ Brandy Lageshulk of the Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Network invited city officials to a public program on issues of drug abuse at 6 p.m. Oct. 23 at Brooke High School.
She said the program is in conjunction with talks to students at the middle and high schools in conjunction with National Red Ribbon Week, a nationwide drug prevention observance spurred by the death of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, a federal drug enforcement agent who was killed by cocaine traffickers in 1985.
Tapped to speak to students and adults are: U.S. Attorney William Ihlefeld, members of the Northern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a federal drug agent and a criminal analyst from Charleston.
The programs will include a demonstration by a K9 unit and discussion of such issues as laced vapes, drugs disguised as candy and minors used to distribute narcotics, among others.
≤ It was announced trick or treat hours will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.