Weirton continues planning for utility plant projects
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WEIRTON - Despite cost overruns and other challenges, Weirton officials continue working toward an expansion of the city's water and wastewater treatment plants.
As part of Monday's council meeting, the third readings of two ordinances authorizing bond series for the two projects were unanimously approved. A public hearing on the ordinances also was held prior to Monday's meeting.
"We keep knocking the dominoes down," said Utilities Director Butch Mastrantoni, offering his thanks to council.
Each project would expand the treatment capacity of the respective plants from their current 4 million gallons per day to 8 million gallons per day, an objective determined several years ago as a result of larger industries beginning to express interest in locating to Weirton.
Bids for the wastewater treatment plant came in $7.2 million over estimates, leaving the Weirton Sanitary Board currently in the process of looking for additional funding sources. Mastrantoni said an application for funding is being developed, and, he and City Manager Mike Adams recently met with state Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, for additional assistance.
"I left pretty optimistic from that meeting," Adams said.
For the water treatment plant, the Weirton Area Water Board received a special dispensation to requirements under Build America Buy America, and, according to Mastrantoni, state officials advised the best course of action would be to rebid the entire project.
A pre-bid meeting will be held Wednesday, with the bid opening on Feb. 1
Mastrantoni said it is his hope to have positive news in the next two months.
"This thing's going to go really fast once it gets into construction," Mastrantoni said. "It's been six years in the making."
In other business, Monday, Weirton Council:
Approved the second reading of Ordinance 2220, codifying public nuisance regulations;
Approved the second reading of Ordinance 2221, amending city code related to the keeping of certain animals and reptiles;
Approved the second reading of Ordinance 2222, replacing the city's vicious dog regulations;
Passed a resolution for an agreement with Pulice Construction, at a cost of $1,700, for the demolition of a vacant garage structure on Carothers Addition;
Approved a contract with the purchase of a 2023 Ford F-450 chassis cab for the Weirton Fire Department, at $59, 260;
Approved an amendment to the city's Fiscal 2023 annual action plan for the 2023 Community Development Block Grant funds;
Authorized a revision to the 2023-24 fiscal General Fund budget;
Approved resolutions authorizing memorandums of understanding with Hancock County Commission and Brooke County Commission for the operation of Weirton's municipal election;
Approved the appointment of Paul Starvaggi to the Weirton Fire Civil Service Commission, through June 30, 2025, completing the term of Joe Stankiewicz.