WHEELING, W.Va. — Infrastructure and community response to the COVID-19 pandemic took center stage during Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott’s State of the City address in the ‘Friendly City’ on Tuesday.
Elliott addressed the large crowd at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack in his first State of the City since being reelected last year, as this address had been pushed back from February due to COVID-19.
He told the crowd to be patient when it comes to “both public and private investment in our community at levels equally unseen in the past 100 years,” when it comes to construction. None is more visible than the three-year, $215 million highway project by the West Virginia Division of Highways (DOH) that Elliott said is the largest single highway project in West Virginia in terms of both scope and cost.
The project is currently in year two and has shut down parts of Interstate-70 eastbound in parts of the city to repair and replace bridges. When complete, the city will have 26 bridges on the interstate throughout Ohio County that will either be fully renovated or replaced.
Elliott then mentioned two other DOH projects happening in the coming months including a roughly $35 million investment into the streetscape in Downtown Wheeling. Elliott said the project will span State Route 2 Downtown consisting: Main from 9th to 16th; Market from 10th to 16th; 10th from Main to Market; 16th from Main to Eoff; Eoff from 16th to 18th; and Chapline from 16th to 18th. It will also include the City-owned streets of 12th and 14th between Main and Market, the mayor said in his speech.
According to Elliott, each street in question will receive new sidewalks, light signals, crosswalks, trees, curb bump-outs to enhance the pedestrian experience, and new stormwater retention capabilities, including bioswales.
The third DOH project that Elliott mentioned during his speech was the rehabilitation of the historic Suspension Bridge, which has been closed to vehicular traffic since September 2019. According to the mayor, the DOH has requested that bids for this project be submitted by August 10 of this year.
“This project is estimated to be between $8 and $15 million and will ensure the structural integrity of this historic bridge while adding decorative lights. Whether the bridge will re-open to traffic remains an open question about which there will be many conversations in the months and years ahead,” Elliott said.
The city also has several new major construction projects that are queued up and ready to go, Elliott said. One project planned is a multi-story parking structure to be located upon the site of the former Chase Bank Building at 11th and Market Streets. The new structure will also house roughly 9,500 square feet of 1st-floor retail space fronting both 11th and Market Streets.
Elliott said work is well underway on the $30 million rehabilitation of the former Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Building into a loft apartment complex. He said it is crucial to see downtown’s tallest building be restored to productive use after a decade of vacancy.
“Losing a structure like this would have been unforgivable, and it gives me great joy to see Coon Restoration employees entering and exiting it each day as part of an 18-month rehabilitation project,” Elliott said.
VIEW: Elliott’s bio on city site
He included details of a $6 million transformation of the Valley Professional Center on the former OVMC campus into a new headquarters for the Wheeling Police Department. He expects that to be done in December 2022. The city has also taken to first steps in acquiring property on 17th Street in East Wheeling to house the new $6.4 million headquarters for the Wheeling Fire Department.
At the beginning of 2020, the city established a user fee to help pay for infrastructure projects and fund a public safety building. Employers are required to withhold $2 per week from each employee’s pay.
Elliott said there is no doubt the city’s user fee is paying off.
“Much of the early spending of these funds has been centered around critical road slips in neighborhoods across the city. This was necessary,” he said.
“But going forward, you can expect to see some more visible projects taking shape. Perhaps no more visible will be the replacement of the sidewalk and fencing alongside Wheeling Hill with something safe and attractive. Stay tuned.”
Elliott said much of the city’s future economic development will depend on residents doing their part to end the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the latest figures from the state Department of Health and Human Resources, 22,428 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ohio County, equaling 54.2% of the population.
He had a message for local residents that have not been vaccinated.
“Those of you who are choosing to remain unvaccinated without special circumstances are relying on something other than the accepted scientific consensus. It is as simple as that,” Elliott said.
“And you are putting our community at risk not only of more COVID-19 deaths but also future shutdowns. Is there anyone here today who wants to see another Governor’s order shutting everything down? I know that I emphatically do not.”
Elliott praised Howard Gamble, Administrator of the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department and Lou Vargo, Wheeling-Ohio County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Director for work during the pandemic. Elliott also asked for a moment of silence for those lost to COVID-19.
“From the inception of the COVID-19 crisis, both Howard and Lou recognized the perilous risks that a community like Wheeling, with its older population, faced from an aggressive airborne virus that attacks the respiratory system. Their considerable training and experience served them well,” Elliott said.
“From the beginning, those of us in public office looked to both Howard and Lou for guidance. Tough decisions were inevitable, but looking back, I believe our community was served very well by these two gentlemen.”
The pair of Vargo and Gamble were not the only individuals honored by Elliott on Tuesday for work in the city. Former city manager, councilman, and Vice Mayor of the City of Wheeling, Mike Nau was given the Gateway Award for contributions to the community.
Reverend and Dr. Michael Linger, the Executive Director of the House of Carpenter, was recognized for the House of Carpenter finishing construction on a new $2.7 million youth center to expand its work with children, youth, and families. Jeff Mauck was recognized for his work on the city’s planning commission for nearly a quarter of a century.
Ellen Gano was the 2021 recipient of the City’s Community Spirit Award. Elliott said Gano committed to playing a part in the ongoing revitalization of Wheeling and founded Volunteer Wheeling, which calls upon area residents to participate in group projects.
Elliott recognized Joe Sparksman and Men of Change. Elliott said Men of Change is a group of 14 African-American men in Wheeling who banded together a little more than a year ago to make a difference by uniting the community instead of tolerating division. Elliott also congratulated Ray Carney for his contributions to his North Wheeling neighborhood
Doug Costain received an ovation for his work in youth baseball in Wheeling. Susie Nelson, the Executive Director of The Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley since 2007, was also an honoree on Tuesday.
Elliott ended the speech with three upcoming initiatives including user fee projects. Another initiative on the table is an Entertainment Endowment Fund that would be funded and managed jointly by the city and the CVB to bring more entertainment acts to Wheeling. The mayor also said the city needs to increase connectivity to the waterfront, as Wheeling sits on the Ohio River.
“While much progress was made in the 1990s with the creation of Heritage Port, the fact of the matter is that we are leaving a lot on the table when it comes to exploiting our waterfront for economic growth,” he said.