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Wheeling council backs city manager to close exempted camping site starting Dec. 1, council says
Summary
The Wheeling City Council voted Oct. 21 to support asking the city manager to withdraw an exemption allowing camping at a city‑owned site known as the former dog pound, with a target effective date of Dec. 1, 2025.
Wheeling — The Wheeling City Council on Oct. 21 voted to support a request that the city manager withdraw the exempted camping-area designation for the former dog pound, effectively directing the manager to close the site beginning Dec. 1, 2025, if he exercises his discretion to do so.
Councilor King moved to ask the city manager to withdraw the exemption. After debate, council members expressed frustration with the site’s continued use, describing it as a failure of the temporary triage concept and arguing that available shelter beds and services should be used instead. “That camp is … a special spot of hell. And it’s time to close that,” one council member said during debate. Several members said the city has expanded services — citing partnerships with Northwood Health Systems, the police department’s crisis response unit and additional beds — and argued remaining occupants should be brought indoors.
City officials clarified the underlying ordinance grants the city manager sole discretion to grant or withdraw exemptions; council’s vote was framed as a show of support so the manager would not act alone on a politically sensitive decision. Council later asked staff to provide meetings with service providers in November and noted that the notice being discussed is approximately six weeks before the proposed Dec. 1 date. Council recorded at least one nay vote; the clerk announced the motion approved.
Councilors discussed compliance with a court order issued by Judge Bailey and listed procedural steps the city would follow if the exemption is withdrawn. Council members said they will provide support to the city manager in carrying out any required actions and emphasized bringing people into shelter and connecting them with services rather than leaving them outdoors through the winter.
Provenance: The motion and discussion appear in council remarks and debate beginning at 00:26:55; the formal vote of support is recorded at 00:44:20 in the meeting minutes.
