Weirton council authorizes $1.5 million transfer to fund consolidated paving program

Weirton City Council unanimously approved a resolution on June 9 to transfer $1,500,000 from the Financial Stabilization Consolidated Investment Account into the General Fund to finance a consolidated paving program.

Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich told the council the transfer was needed because two paving projects came due close together, producing a larger upfront expenditure than usual. She said combining the work under one contract yielded about $300,000 in mobilization savings and enabled the city to complete "a historic level of paving work in a shorter timeframe." Council discussion included questions about alternative funding sources and the plan to restore reserves.

Councilman Timothy C. Connell made the motion to proceed with formal consideration; the resolution passed 7–0. Smoljanovich said sales tax and business and occupation (B&O) tax revenues expected beginning in July and flowing into October would be used to replenish the stabilization account, and that the expenditures had effectively been anticipated in recent planning.

Public Works Director Allen Hess explained that the City had been off its normal paving cycle for roughly five years and that consolidating projects would allow Weirton to "catch back up" and resume an annual paving review following winter evaluations. City Manager Michael A. Adams added that the approach improves scheduling and reduces unit costs. The council did not attach additional conditions to the transfer.

The transfer was approved as part of a slate of budget and finance actions on the June 9 agenda; the council also approved a separate budget revision to account for transfers and project expenditures by roll call vote later in the meeting.