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City manager says budget ended under appropriation, Opportunity Zone renewals submitted and demolition funding for Elm Grove may be forthcoming
Summary
City Manager Garrett reported the city closed the fiscal year with a $597,000 cash carryover, that the city submitted two census tracts for Opportunity Zone renewal, and that the West Virginia DLAP program is likely to fund demolition and environmental remediation of a TCI property in Elm Grove. He also updated the council on wastewater digester progress.
Wheeling City Manager Garrett told the council the city submitted applications to renew two Opportunity Zones covering downtown and adjacent areas and that the fiscal year closed with a positive carryover. "Happy to report that the overall budget was under the amount that was appropriated by city council and the cash carryover, was just $597,000," Garrett said.
Garrett said the city submitted renewals for Census Tracts 26 and 27 to the governor's office, a step he described as part of continued downtown and east-side economic development planning. "The applications have gone into the governor's office that were due on July 1," he said.
On a separate matter, Garrett said the West Virginia DLAP program has signaled willingness to approve demolition and environmental remediation of the TCI property in Elm Grove, a site the city acquired several years ago. "The program is interested in funding that entire demolition environmental education," he told councilors, adding that formal funding paperwork will be brought to council in the coming weeks.
Garrett also updated councilors on capital work at the wastewater treatment plant. He said council previously authorized rental of screw presses to dewater sludge and that the next phase—installation of permanent equipment—has been budgeted. "This is the permanent solution," he said, noting the project will provide 100% dewatering capability for current and future loads once the digester phase is online.
Garrett said these developments reduce immediate pressure on the budget stabilization fund; he reported no contribution from that fund was required for last year's operating budget. He said staff will present formal demolition funding requests and contract details to council when they are finalized.
The council heard Garrett's reports in the regularly scheduled meeting; the items will return to council for formal approvals as required.
