SUPPORTING RECREATION — Mayor Dean Harris, left, and Ward 4 Councilman Rick Stead discussed potential funding allocations for the city’s recreational facilities during Wednesday’s Weirton Council workshop focused on the 2025-26 fiscal budgets. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — Weirton Council returned to their budget discussions Wednesday, with much of the focus turning to funding for recreation, as part of a workshop session to plan for the city’s 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich explained, in years past, Parks and Recreation has been provided with $700,000 to be put toward operations.

“They’ve requested a little more than double that this year,” she said, noting a request of $1.5 million.

Initially, the proposed budget was set to allocate $800,000; however, several members of council recommended the full amount requested, saying it is time for the city to invest in its recreation facilities, in particular the Millsop Community Center.

“We talk about making parks and recreation a focal point; a selling point,” said Ward 4 Councilman Rick Stead, who proposed the $1.5 million allotment be provided, as requested by the Park Board.

Stead expressed concern of further deterioration to the community center if action is not taken. Currently, a multi-phase project is underway to reinforce the south wall of the building, including the installation of a rooftop air unit to dehumidify the indoor pool area.

Mayor Dean Harris agreed, saying he feels the city has funding necessary to put toward some of the projects which have been put off over the years.

“The revenue is in the budget to start taking care of these things,” Harris said. “We ought to step up and do something about it.”

Parks Executive Director Coty Shingle explained, though, the increase in the budgetary request would be purely for operational costs, and would not cover any improvement projects. He emphasized the difficulties Weirton Parks has faced since the COVID pandemic, explaining there’s been a reduction in use of the facilities as people got into a comfort level of in-home workouts or exercising elsewhere.

He also explained how Parks has lost staff to, not only nearby communities, but other departments within the City of Weirton as they were offered higher pay.

All the while, they have seen increased costs of their own.

“We have all the same problems everybody else has,” Shingle said. “I’m squeezing every dollar out of everything I can.”

Ward 7 Councilman Chris Jonczak said, while he is in favor of providing funding to support recreation facilities, he also feels there are things which can be done now, and in a cost-effective way, to keep the Millsop Center and other buildings well-presented.

“Accountability is a huge thing,” he said, saying some areas have been an “eyesore.”

Smoljanovich also warned, by providing additional funding to Parks, it would mean less money is available for other projects, such as paving.

In other areas, the proposed budget includes $15,000 for beautification, $535,000 for the Mary H. Weir Public Library, and $25,000 for the Mayor’s Summer Youth Program.

The Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau will receive $250,000, representing half of the revenue derived from the city’s hotel/motel tax.

A review of requests for various areas of Public Works – including the Streets, Lighting, and Sanitation operations – also was held, along with discussions of funding for Weirton Transit with it noted information is still needed from the Federal Transit Administration.

Estimates put the proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1, just over $29 million. The budget must be approved by council and submitted to the state by the end of March.