Wellsburg council weighs economic development spending
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WELLSBURG -- Wellsburg Council will need to amend its budget following a recent decision to rejoin the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle, while another proposal could provide additional funding for economic development in the community.
On July 28, council voted 4-3 to rejoin the BDC, which focuses on economic development opportunities in Brooke and Hancock counties.
Meanwhile, Councilman Geno Capp, during Tuesday's council meeting, asked council to consider providing $4,000 to the Wellsburg Urban Redevelopment Authority. The proposal was defeated 2-3.
Capp said it makes sense for the city to provide some support to the URA. He serves on the board and therefore could not vote on Tuesday's proposal.
"They put that building up. They got a business in there," Capp said, referring to efforts by the URA to redevelop the building at 701 Charles St., which is now home to the Kookie Jar and two residential apartments.
Councilman Randy Fletcher noted, however, that the city already has set its budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year and did not include any funding for economic development.
While council agreed to rejoin the BDC, a financial contribution as part of the membership has not yet been determined.
Council agreed to schedule a Finance Committee meeting for 11 a.m. Aug. 18 to determine where funds may be available for the two expenditures.
"We’ll have to do budget revisions," Capp said.
The city authorized the creation of the URA in 2011 to address vacant and dilapidated structures in the city.
In related matters, Councilman Larry Swanson recommended that each council member identify two major priorities in their wards.
"We talk about a lot of near-term, visible things," he said, noting regular efforts to select smaller-scale projects that can be accomplished quickly and noticed by residents.
The idea, he said, would be to identify larger projects that could have a more lasting impact on the community, with suggested projects submitted to City Manager Erica Tamburin.
"That gives Erica an opportunity to prioritize these things," Swanson said.