MOVING AHEAD? — The possibility of Weirton’s County Road Fire Station reopening could take another step next week, as City Council is set to consider a resolution authorizing the hiring of six new firefighters and to reopen the station. -- File photo

WEIRTON — The effort to fully reopen the County Road Fire Station may be taking another step.

The agenda for the next meeting of Weirton Council, scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, includes a resolution “Authorizing the hiring of six additional firefighters, the reopening and operation of the County Road Fire Station and providing for current and future budgetary authorization related thereto.”

The resolution is being sponsored by Councilmembers Tim Connell, Brittany Holloway, and Anthony Rocchio. It also is set for discussion by the city’s Finance Committee, which will consider whether to recommend the action, during its meeting at 10 a.m. Friday.

The proposed resolution follows a work session held Dec. 16 by Weirton Council and Weirton firefighters focused on reopening the station, which has not been staffed for more than 20 years.

“I’ve been trying to get firemen for six years,” Fire Chief Kevin Himmelrick noted during the workshop. “Six guys is what it would take to get it open.”

If six firefighters are hired, Himmelrickk explained in December, it would provide enough staffing for one shift commander, two firefighters at County Road, four at Gilson Avenue and four at Headquarters Station each shift, with enough equipment currently available to cover the three stations.

Himmelrick also stated he has calculated the additional staffing would help to lower the department’s overtime expenses.

The potential of using some of the department’s existing overtime budget to cover at least some of the hirings for the current fiscal year was raised.

Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich has noted, though, she is uncertain what funds may be available to cover the costs of the new personnel going forward, indicating Weirton Council may have to consider an additional stream of revenue through the form of either increasing an existing fee or establishing something new.

“Until I start digging into the budget, I don’t know where it’s going to come from,” she said.

Mayor Dean Harris agreed, saying during the December workshop increasing revenue would be the only way to ensure funding remained stable to cover the increased personnel expense.

“We need to explore a new revenue source,” Harris said. “I don’t think our general fund could handle it.”

Firefighters have been renovating much of the station themselves, in preparation for its potential reopening, with funding provided through a $150,000 allotment of American Rescue Plan Act Funds provided by the previous municipal administration.

Weirton Council meets on the top floor of the Weirton Municipal Building.