Wheeling council adopts 2025–26 budget, approves emergency wastewater repairs and several contracts

The Wheeling City Council adopted the city's fiscal year 2025–26 budget and approved emergency repairs and related contracts at its April 15 meeting.

The budget ordinance, filed with the West Virginia State Auditor as the municipal council levy estimate for fiscal year 2025–26, was moved and approved after a request by city staff to expedite state deadlines. City Manager Herron told council the city received required information from the State Auditor’s office and asked for two readings on the budget; council adopted the ordinance that night.

The council also approved a resolution authorizing the waiver of procurement procedures for repairs to the wastewater treatment plant related to flood damage from April 2024. The resolution was moved, seconded and approved during the meeting.

In unfinished business, council adopted an ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend $18,384.90 with Grama 8 Solutions LLC of Warren, Ohio, to purchase replacement pumps for the Royal Oaks Lift Station; the purchase will be charged to the Water Pollution Control Division. Council also adopted an ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend $62,000 with M & G Architects and Engineers of Wheeling for engineering services for demolition of Clay School; that expenditure will be charged to the regular RCIP fund.

Other original propositions presented for second reading included an ordinance authorizing the issuance of up to $3,000,000 in combined waterworks and sewage system revenue bonds (Series 2025A) through the West Virginia Infrastructure Fund to finance sewage-system improvements; an ordinance adopting replacement pages to the city’s codified ordinances; authorization to purchase a 2024 Yanmar excavator from ICR Equipment of Bel Air, Ohio, for $81,750 charged to the WPCD replacement vehicle fund; and an ordinance for $623,994.92 for 2025 street resurfacing bidding with a vendor in Bridgeport, Ohio, to be charged to RCIP and city service fee. Council moved those items to a second reading as part of the evening’s original propositions.

Votes at a glance

- Adoption of minutes from the April 1, 2025 council meeting — motion to accept as received; approved. - Ordinance: $18,384.90 with Grama 8 Solutions LLC for replacement pumps (Royal Oaks Lift Station) — motion to adopt; approved (recorded as approved by council; individual roll-call names not specified in the transcript). - Ordinance: $62,000 with M & G Architects and Engineers for engineering services (Clay School demolition) — motion to adopt; approved. - Ordinance: municipal council levy estimate (FY 2025–26 budget) — motion for adoption; approved. - Resolution: waiver of procurement procedures for wastewater treatment plant flood repairs (April 6, 2024) — motion for adoption; approved. - Several other ordinances presented (bond issuance up to $3,000,000; excavator purchase; paving contract; codified ordinance replacement pages) — moved for second reading; second reading scheduled/approved. - Motion to adjourn — approved.

Why it matters: The budget adoption sets the city’s spending plan and tax levy estimate for the coming fiscal year and the procurement waiver and related contract approvals allow immediate repairs and purchases for the wastewater system while flood-recovery funding (including expected FEMA reimbursements) is pending.

Council and staff noted that FEMA funding is anticipated within four to five months and that the short-term financing and procurement steps are intended to cover needed repairs without a rate increase to customers. The council did not record individual roll-call vote names for several motions in the public transcript; the meeting record indicates motions were approved.