Wheeling council approves $5.87 million wastewater engineering contract and several spending measures

Wheeling’s City Council voted Feb. 3 to authorize multiple spending measures, including a $5,872,220 contract with Verdantes of Wheeling for engineering services on wastewater treatment-plant and collection-system improvements, to be charged to the city’s $20.25 million bond program.

The decisions were made during a regularly scheduled council meeting, where councilors also approved an audit-services contract, transfers to an economic development corporation, parking changes and other maintenance expenditures. Councilors adopted the Verdantes contract after a roll-call vote.

The Verdantes agreement covers engineering, flow monitoring and collection-system work linked to the city’s phase 2 and phase 3 wastewater improvements; council discussed funding the work from the bond issuance. The contract amount was introduced by the clerk as $5,872,220 and the ordinance was moved and carried by council vote.

Council also approved an ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend $40,050 with Perry and Associates for audit services for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, and an ordinance transferring $415,000 to the Ohio Valley Area Development Corporation for economic development purposes (split $200,000 to regular RCIP and $215,000 to project funds). Other approved items included compact-car-only parking meters downtown, two stop signs on Hildreth Avenue and a $139,935 exterior painting contract for the intermodal parking garage.

City Manager Mr. Harren reported that the Verdantes work is part of a broader capital-improvement plan tied to the city bond and said the engineering services are intended to support plant and collection-system upgrades. He also highlighted federal appropriations that would support local projects, noting, “Included in the appropriations bill are $2,000,000 for the Northern Parkway improvement project” and other congressionally directed funding for local priorities.

Council handled most items with minimal discussion; motions were moved and seconded and approved by roll call. The meeting packet included additional original propositions that the council introduced and approved, such as roof and pool repairs ($114,115), EV chargers at the intermodal transportation center ($73,915), park equipment purchases ($54,712.35) and short-term rental of temporary frac tanks ($15,190) charged to the Water Pollution Control Division.

Council did not advance two previously tabled ordinances related to National Road parking and bus-stop relocation because there was no motion or second to take them off the table.

Votes at a glance: - Verdantes engineering contract for wastewater improvements — approved. - Transfer of $415,000 to Ohio Valley Area Development Corporation — approved. - Audit services contract with Perry & Associates ($40,050) — approved. - Intermodal parking garage painting ($139,935) — approved. - Two stop signs on Hildreth Avenue — approved. - Compact-car parking meters on Market Street — approved. - Multiple smaller spending items (roofing, EV chargers, park equipment, frac tanks, Verdantus extension, property conveyance, cleanup invoices) — approved.

The council moved next to a public-comment item and announced a single registered speaker for that portion of the agenda.