WEIRTON - Weirton City Council will meet Monday where members will review and vote on a resolution for the city's Community Development Block Grant fund budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
The CDBG entitlement program allocates annual grants to larger cities and urban counties to develop viable communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and opportunities to expand economic opportunities, principally for low- to moderate-income persons.
Beth Gaughan, the city's CDBG administrator, said the final number for the allocation after reprogramming unused dollars is $480,323; estimated from last year's figures and some carryover funds. Approximately $54,600, or 15 percent of the total allotment, can be used toward public services, she said.
"We had a public hearing earlier this week," she said. "There were no public comments and no changes made to the budget after the workshop meetings."
Allocations included $1,500 to A Child's Place CASA; $18,000 for the police foot patrol; $5,000 for the Weirton Senior Center; $10,000 for Social Services - the remainder of which will be picked up by the general fund; $1,500 for the Weirton Christian Center; $8,400 for the Dunbar Recreation Center; $4,950 for the Comfort House; $1,000 for Energy Express that will be funded from the city's general fund; and $8,450 for the Community Bread Basket for food and communication upgrades to the building.
The remaining amount of money was allocated for specific projects and street paving. Council agreed to allocate $60,000 to the Weirton Housing Authority for a second year to pay off the new sprinkler system project; $24,000 for a Halmotro System update for the Weirton Fire Department; $10,000 for gain entry tools for the Weirton Fire Department; $10,000 for the Mary H. Weir Public Library to fund a project over multiple years; $136,500 for street paving; $40,000 for the upgraded water flow project on Zeta Street; $22,748 for a valve replacement project in the downtown area; $50,000 for the Inspections Department; $10,000 for demolitions; $55,000 for general administration; $1,500 for the Human Rights Commission for operational costs and $2,500 for fair housing.
After reprogramming unused dollars, the Weirton Redevelopment Authority will have $20,379 to use as seed money for possible joint ventures with the Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle.
In addition, the Finance Committee voted to recommend approval for the expenditure of $3,000 to get an appraisal of several properties in the northern district of the city.
Chairman Fred Marsh said the Redevelopment Authority and the BDC are teaming up to move forward on the first phase of a possible negotiation, which council discussed with representatives of both entities during an executive session at a council meeting.
Marsh said the amount of CDBG dollars remaining for use for the Redevelopment Authority didn't pan out the way the group expected. However, Gaughan added that it would make no difference at this phase because the appraisal would not be CDBG eligible with no definite plan for purchase or development in place.
"This has been budgeted out of the general fund," Marsh said. "It's a first step."
Ward 7 Councilman Terry Weigel agreed. He said at this point, there is no reason not to move forward.
(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)
