RENOVATIONS DISCUSSED — Members of Follansbee Council gathered at the Follansbee Community House on Monday to discuss possible renovations to the building with representatives of Matyskiela & Grant of Wheeling and Scheeser Buckley Mayfield of Uniontown, Ohio. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — On Monday, Follansbee Council members mulled various renovations to the Follansbee Community House and whether to replace it all together as well as the extension of a small footbridge over Allegheny Creek.

At a work meeting held at the Community House, council met with architect Josh Langsdorf of Matyskiela & Grant of Wheeling and Chris Schoonover, president of Scheeser Buckley Mayfield of Uniontown, Ohio, who offered suggestions to improve the rental hall.

Langsdorf said the latter firm was retained by Matyskiela & Grant for its knowledge of electrical, plumbing and other mechanical systems.

He advised council that among the most pressing needs is the addition of a handicap accessible ramp to the hall’s front entrance.

He said while handicapped visitors currently can enter through a side door through the kitchen, it can be seen as discriminatory while also being potentially hazardous to them.

Other suggestions included replacing its steel roof because the underlying sofit and eaves are deteriorating, creating a risk of leaks; replacing the air conditioning unit, which utilizes a refrigerant that’s being phased out; and installing LED bulbs, which because of their longer lives, require less maintenance.

Langsdorf and Schoonover said not all of the work must be done immediately, and the hall’s kitchen and restrooms are in good condition.

Councilman at large John Casinelli noted the restrooms were renovated in recent years.

But he also suggested another change: creating a new corridor from the serving room, which would eliminate the need for guests to line up near the doors to the restrooms and pass through the kitchen to return to the dining area.

Mayor David Velegol Jr. said depending on the estimated totals for such changes, it may be more cost-efficient to replace the hall with a new building at the same site.

He suggested the engineers return with three sets of improvements, prioritized according to need, and projected costs as well as an estimate for a new hall, one that would expand the present building’s capacity from about 150 to 200.

Velegol said the project’s ultimate scope will depend on funding, and he is planning to work with Joe Edmiston, an independent grant writer hired by the city, to pursue a federal grant for the endeavor in the near future.

Following the meeting, he said any project centered around the Community House will need to occur after summer, when the hall is heavily booked.

Langsdorf also reported to council on the proposed Allegheny Creek bridge.

He said concrete abutments and short stairways could be extended at each side of the creek to support a prefabricated bridge extending over it in such a way to prevent it from becoming clogged.

A buildup of tree limbs, trash and other debris combined with persistent, heavy rainfall have resulted in the creek being flooded at times.

A major flood in 2016 prompted the city to raze one building that stood over part of the creek and a house with a driveway that extended across it.

The buildings were removed with funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s buyout program, which provides money for residents to relocate from flood-prone areas on the condition no permanent structures are built there.

On Monday, Casinelli encouraged the engineers to seek approval from FEMA and pertinent state officials before proceeding with any plans for the creek.

Second Ward Councilman Charles McCoy said children from nearby Brooke Intermediate School once crossed the creek to ascend city-maintained steps on the other side, taking Elm Avenue and passing through the city’s Orchards neighborhood for an outing to Follansbee Park.

He said the route has been seen as alternative to the pupils making their way on sidewalks along the busier state Route 2.

Repairs to the city steps also are being eyed as part of the project.

Following the meeting, Velegol said Edmiston has submitted more documentation needed for the release of $2.7 million in federal funds awarded for major renovations to the city’s fire station.

He said he expects the money to be disbursed later this year for the project, which also was planned by Matyskiela and Grant.

Plans call for the station near Route 2 and Allegheny Street to be extended south onto a vacant city-owned lot to support the creation of three larger bays for its vehicles, a 720 square foot meeting room, more storage space for equipment and a fitness room for city employees.

The project was spurred by concerns about the station’s deteriorating floor and a need to accommodate modern, larger fire trucks.

It’s also slated to be funded with $50,000 generated each year by a 1 percent sales tax adopted by the city in 2017.