Weirton council unanimously approves paving, sidewalk contracts, traffic-map changes and budget revision

Weirton City Council took a slate of infrastructure and budget actions at its April 13, 2026 meeting, approving traffic-map amendments, contracts for paving and sidewalks, and a General Fund revision.

Traffic changes: Council approved ordinances to rescind two residential disability parking spaces — one at 127 Estes Avenue, Apartment 1 (Ordinance No. 2137) and one at 3336 West Street (Ordinance No. 2203) — and approved installing a crosswalk on the southbound approach of Weir Avenue at South 11th Street along with stop bars at three stop signs at that intersection. The motions were moved by Councilmen Jesse Keeder and Rick Stead and passed unanimously, 7-0.

Contracts: The council authorized a $3,350,000 contract with Kelly Paving for city-wide milling and paving of various streets. The council also approved a $169,267 contract with The James White Construction Company to replace sidewalks on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)-eligible streets (the 3000 and 3100 blocks of Orchard Street). Both resolutions passed by unanimous vote.

Budget revision: Council authorized revisions to the 2025–2026 General Fund budget in response to receipts for the Industrial Road Access project and unbudgeted Park Board expenditures. Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich reported a beginning General Fund cash balance of $2,897,845.99; deposits of $1,697,113.52; a transfer to the HUD-IAR account of $89,224.75; interest of $2,508.75; disbursements of $1,979,510.89; and an ending balance of $2,528,732.62. The budget revision motion passed on a required roll call vote, 7-0.

Department updates and grants: The City Manager reported the city received a $1.34 million grant from the Army Corps of Engineers for Walnut Street water-line replacement. City department heads reported routine operational activity: Public Works began spring cleanup and paving was slated to start; the Sanitary Board construction project was reported approximately 94% complete with anticipated substantial completion by the end of May; the Water Department project was reported about 80–83% complete with substantial completion expected in July; Transit reported three new buses arriving and about $160,000 in reimbursements received for prior expenses. Library Board President Molly Mosser announced the hiring of a new executive director, Philip Neilson, to begin July 1 and described planned roof and fire-alarm updates funded by the library renewal levy.

Other notes: Police Chief Charlie Kush reported 794 calls for service in March and discussed recently purchased traffic monitoring devices that cannot be deployed within 350 feet of stop signs or traffic lights — a constraint not disclosed before purchase. Fire Chief Kevin Himmelrick noted a nearly $1 million fire truck will be returned to service and suggested a public event to showcase the apparatus; he reported a comparable unit today would cost about $1.4 million.

All motions for these items are recorded in the council minutes as approved; the minutes show routine unanimous votes on the traffic and contract items and a unanimous roll call for the budget revision.