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Wheeling council advances routine wastewater purchases and discusses bond anticipation financing for major plant work
Summary
City council approved several purchase ordinances for water pollution-control chemicals and equipment rental and heard an overview of proposed bond anticipation notes to finance larger wastewater-treatment plant upgrades including digester cleaning and centrifuge replacement.
The Wheeling City Council on July 1 approved multiple ordinances authorizing purchases and short-term rentals for the water pollution control division and discussed financing for larger wastewater plant improvements.
Council voted to authorize the city manager to spend $27,000 with Centrus of Kenosha, Wisconsin, for a rented centrifuge; $253,184 with Polydyn Inc. of Riceboro, Georgia, for polymer; $150,150 with Bonded Chemical of Columbus, Ohio, for sodium hypochlorite; $46,250 with PBS Knollwood of Weirton, West Virginia, for sodium bisulfite; and other similar line-item purchases and maintenance contracts for the water department. Each of those ordinances was moved, seconded and recorded as approved during the meeting.
City Manager Mr. Heron described a broader financing proposal under consideration: a bond anticipation note to provide interim financing for engineering and construction work tied to phase 4 of the city's long-term control plan and digester cleaning at the wastewater treatment plant. He said the plant's digesters are “desperate, desperately needed” for cleaning and that digester cleaning is related to an ongoing odor issue at the plant. Mr. Heron said the bond anticipation financing would also permit replacement of rented centrifuges the city has been using; he added that the rental cost was being paid monthly and the bond anticipation note would fund replacements that are planned.
Mr. Heron said, “This would help fund that project. And then, the centrifuge replacement, will occur as well... At this point, it does not require a rate increase,” but he noted that phase 4 improvements could be incorporated into any future rate discussion.
Formal action taken at the July 1 meeting was limited to the line-item purchase ordinances; the larger bond anticipation ordinance was presented as an original proposition and discussed but not shown as adopted in the transcript excerpt.
What this means: The council approved immediate purchases and rental arrangements to keep the plant operating. The larger capital work — digester cleaning, repairs, and permanent centrifuge replacement — was described as needing interim financing and later formal approvals, and could affect utility rates when council addresses long-term financing.
Next steps and implementation: City staff indicated the bond anticipation note and phase 4 improvements will be the subject of forthcoming discussions; any decision to issue bonds or raise rates will return to council for formal action.
