Wellsburg Council focuses on park improvements
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WELLSBURG -- Improvements to local parks, including security measures to deter vandalism, was the focus of Wednesday's Wellsburg Council meeting.
Council heard from Norm Schwertfeger, who was hired by the panel to seek grants for various park projects.
Schwertfeger told council members he has applied for federal and state grants for large playsets estimated at $80,000 to $100,000 for the Betty Carr Recreation Site.
But he said he won't know whether the grants are approved until later this year or early next year.
He asked whether council would like to purchase four smaller pieces that could be used at the park this summer, then moved elsewhere if the grant money is secured.
Schwertfeger said the four pieces could be funded with a $25,000 grant awarded to the city by the Charles and Thelma Pugliese Foundation.
Mayor Dan Dudley said he would like to see some pieces there this summer, noting that much of the older equipment at the park has been removed because it was deemed unsafe.
But 4th Ward Councilman Charlie Harris said council could set aside the Pugliese grant to use as matching funds for the grants.
City Solicitor Ryan Weld said because the purchase wasn't on Wednesday's agenda, it couldn't be acted on.
Council made plans to consider it at a special meeting slated for 5:30 p.m. June 27.
Council was able to approve the purchase of five picnic tables, at a cost of about $800 each, for the E.R. Nichols 1st Ward Park and three sets of aluminum bleachers, for about $6,690.
Fourth Ward Councilwoman Della Serevicz noted the portable bleachers may be used at the city's ball fields on the Town Square when the Wellsburg Applefest and other events are held there.
City Manager Steve Maguschak said the current bleachers are in poor condition.
Council tabled the purchase of doors to replace ones on a storage building at the Betty Carr Recreation Site that had been damaged by vandals, making it more difficult to secure them.
Vandalism has been a recurring problem at the city's parks, and Drew Hunter, a representative of Tri-State World Radio was on hand to propose security cameras for them as well as the city's water and wastewater treatment plants, street garage and the interior of City Hall.
Hunter said in some cases, equipment for existing cameras can be used to re-purposed to save the city money.
No action was taken on the proposal on Wednesday.
In related business, Maguschak said two new pilings and a section of deck at the Wellsburg Wharf have been replaced at a cost of about $22,000.
Council also authorized Hannah Ferguson, a Brooke High School student, to repair and restore a post at the Betty Carr Recreation Site bearing the image of a cartoon character for her senior honors project and Emily Beall, the school's tennis coach, and other students to hold a pickle ball tournament, also as a senior honors project, at the park's new pickleball courts on July 2.
Council also gave its blessing to volunteer cleanup efforts by a church youth group from Spring Arbor, Minn. that plans to work with members of the Foundery Church of Wellsburg.
Dudley said the group is slated to do a cleanup along the city's recreational trail.
The mayor also announced the owners of Reasner Funeral Home are organizing a cleanup of Central Park at 10 a.m. June 24 and will be offering a free movie night for families that evening there.
He encouraged all residents to assist Reasner staff members and their families in what has become a yearly effort for them.
Also discussed were two pieces of business related to Tuesday's general election.
City Clerk Amanda Dudley announced ballots from it will be canvassed at a special meeting at 3 p.m. June 22 at City Hall.
And Dudley said the primary reason for the special June 27 meeting is to consider the appointment of 4th Ward Councilwoman Della Serevicz as city clerk.
Serevicz, whose current term ends later this month and who did not seek re-election, has expressed interest in the position, which a majority of voters agreed should become an appointed, rather than elected, office.
Dudley said no one applied for the position after his daughter, Amanda, resigned from it in November, citing health issues. Despite her resignation, she agreed to remain to oversee the election.
Council also heard from Fred Marino, who won Serevicz' seat as an unchallenged candidate in the election.
Marino told council he has used social media to take city officials to task for high weeds along sidewalks, curbs in no parking zones that need to be repainted and other conditions he said create a poor image for the city.
Maguschak said the maintenance of sidewalks is the responsibility of property owners and he lacks the manpower to have weeds throughout the city trimmed.