Wheeling council approves $473,149 for Roe Brook Trailhead phase 1

The Wheeling City Council on Dec. 2 unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend $473,149 with Cassie Baker of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, for phase 1 earthwork and planting at the Roe Brook Trailhead.

City staff explained the contract covers environmental remediation work at a known brownfield site that must be completed before a larger phase 2 project. "This is the first of the two‑phase project for the Roe Brook Park project," said Mary, a city staff member who answered council questions. She said phase 2 is a $1,700,000 project funded by the West Virginia Department of Transportation and that phase 1 requires only "a little bit of fill" because of anticipated uses of the property.

The ordinance specifies the $473,149 cost will be charged as follows: $250,000 to an EPA grant and $223,149 to the project fund. The council moved and approved the ordinance by voice vote with no recorded dissents.

The contract award with Cassie Baker will allow the city to proceed with remediation and site preparation; staff said the subsequent phase will cover full construction and is contingent on VDOT funding. The council did not specify a construction start date for phase 2.

City officials noted the site is a brownfield and that complying with grant and environmental requirements drove the two‑phase approach. The ordinance language presented to council described phase 1 as earthwork and planting; no amendments to the funding split were presented during the meeting.

The council's approval authorizes the city manager to execute the expenditure; the meeting record indicates the vote was unanimous.