Wheeling council approves up to $80 million water and sewer bond and adopts rate increases; wastewater digester work to begin
October 07, 2025 | Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia
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Wheeling City Council on Oct. 7 approved an ordinance authorizing the issuance of up to $80,000,000 in combined waterworks and sewage system improvement revenue bonds and adopted new water and sewer rates to finance a slate of water-main and wastewater-treatment projects.
The bond ordinance and the rate ordinances were adopted during the council's regular meeting after the council conducted a public-hearing period that included one speaker who reviewed the project list and costs. The measures passed with the council voting to record their approval during the session.
City Manager Herron told the council the bond and rate changes are intended to fund both routine repairs and larger upgrades identified after the 2024 flood. "The adoption of the bond ordinance tonight as well as the sewer rate increase ... will enable that project to begin, and the contractors are already mobilizing and ready to go," Herron said. He said contractor mobilization is expected in November.
Why it matters: The measures will fund immediate repairs and multi‑year projects at the city's water distribution and wastewater-treatment systems, including digester cleaning at the wastewater plant — work city staff and council said should reduce odors and address infrastructure damage tied to prior flooding.
Projects and budget details presented during the public hearing and by staff (amounts as stated at the hearing): On the water side, speakers identified the following projects and amounts: Mozart/Clearview booster-station water-main repairs, $3,000,226; Atlas/Carmel/Grandview/Oglebay/Leawood/Poke Run water-main improvements, $6,323,888; Boggs Hill booster-station water-main improvements, $7,346,472; and the water-treatment-plant sludge-dewatering project, $3,333,686. The water-side total was listed as $20,230,000.
On the sewer side, the wastewater‑treatment‑facility improvements were listed at $30,600,000. Other sewer-collection and separation projects listed included: Warwood area infiltration and inflow reduction (amount stated in the public hearing record), Mount Deschaunal/Dorman Road storm-sewer improvements $1,700,000; sanitary sewer rehabilitation (GCMP phase 2) $1,000,000; civic-center siphon replacement $3,800,000; Dimidale Oak sewer separation $2,300,000. A sewer-side total of $45,900,000 was given during the hearing. (The record of individual project amounts contains a large figure for the Warwood item that is inconsistent with the stated sewer total; see provenance and clarifying details.)
City Manager Herron also summarized additional funding outside the bond: approximately $4,500,000 in post‑flood repairs at the wastewater plant and roughly $1.5 million to $2.0 million for digester cleaning, both described as separate investments in addition to the bond‑funded work.
During the public‑hearing segment Mayor Wigrader acknowledged the political difficulty of raising utility rates and sought to place the increases in context: "I don't think there's anybody at this table who wants to raise rates 38%. I mean that," he said, adding statewide comparisons that, in the mayor's account, place Wheeling nearer the middle of rates after the increase.
Council next steps and implementation: Herron said contractors are expected on‑site in November to begin digester cleaning and related wastewater‑plant work. Bond closing and technical financing documents were handled in subsequent council action (a supplemental resolution setting bond parameters was adopted during the meeting).
Votes and formal actions recorded at the meeting: The council adopted (1) the ordinance authorizing issuance of combined waterworks and sewage system improvement revenue bonds (series 2025B) and related financing documents; (2) an ordinance establishing new water rates, fees and charges; and (3) an ordinance establishing new sewer rates, fees and charges. Each motion was recorded as approved during the Oct. 7 session.
Ending: City staff said they would follow with contractor mobilization and project scheduling information; the council also scheduled public outreach and a finance‑committee forum on utility rates for community members.
The bond ordinance and the rate ordinances were adopted during the council's regular meeting after the council conducted a public-hearing period that included one speaker who reviewed the project list and costs. The measures passed with the council voting to record their approval during the session.
City Manager Herron told the council the bond and rate changes are intended to fund both routine repairs and larger upgrades identified after the 2024 flood. "The adoption of the bond ordinance tonight as well as the sewer rate increase ... will enable that project to begin, and the contractors are already mobilizing and ready to go," Herron said. He said contractor mobilization is expected in November.
Why it matters: The measures will fund immediate repairs and multi‑year projects at the city's water distribution and wastewater-treatment systems, including digester cleaning at the wastewater plant — work city staff and council said should reduce odors and address infrastructure damage tied to prior flooding.
Projects and budget details presented during the public hearing and by staff (amounts as stated at the hearing): On the water side, speakers identified the following projects and amounts: Mozart/Clearview booster-station water-main repairs, $3,000,226; Atlas/Carmel/Grandview/Oglebay/Leawood/Poke Run water-main improvements, $6,323,888; Boggs Hill booster-station water-main improvements, $7,346,472; and the water-treatment-plant sludge-dewatering project, $3,333,686. The water-side total was listed as $20,230,000.
On the sewer side, the wastewater‑treatment‑facility improvements were listed at $30,600,000. Other sewer-collection and separation projects listed included: Warwood area infiltration and inflow reduction (amount stated in the public hearing record), Mount Deschaunal/Dorman Road storm-sewer improvements $1,700,000; sanitary sewer rehabilitation (GCMP phase 2) $1,000,000; civic-center siphon replacement $3,800,000; Dimidale Oak sewer separation $2,300,000. A sewer-side total of $45,900,000 was given during the hearing. (The record of individual project amounts contains a large figure for the Warwood item that is inconsistent with the stated sewer total; see provenance and clarifying details.)
City Manager Herron also summarized additional funding outside the bond: approximately $4,500,000 in post‑flood repairs at the wastewater plant and roughly $1.5 million to $2.0 million for digester cleaning, both described as separate investments in addition to the bond‑funded work.
During the public‑hearing segment Mayor Wigrader acknowledged the political difficulty of raising utility rates and sought to place the increases in context: "I don't think there's anybody at this table who wants to raise rates 38%. I mean that," he said, adding statewide comparisons that, in the mayor's account, place Wheeling nearer the middle of rates after the increase.
Council next steps and implementation: Herron said contractors are expected on‑site in November to begin digester cleaning and related wastewater‑plant work. Bond closing and technical financing documents were handled in subsequent council action (a supplemental resolution setting bond parameters was adopted during the meeting).
Votes and formal actions recorded at the meeting: The council adopted (1) the ordinance authorizing issuance of combined waterworks and sewage system improvement revenue bonds (series 2025B) and related financing documents; (2) an ordinance establishing new water rates, fees and charges; and (3) an ordinance establishing new sewer rates, fees and charges. Each motion was recorded as approved during the Oct. 7 session.
Ending: City staff said they would follow with contractor mobilization and project scheduling information; the council also scheduled public outreach and a finance‑committee forum on utility rates for community members.
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