Photos by Casey Junkins Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie, left, discusses his efforts to move the city forward during his first year in office Thursday, as City Manager Robert Herron and City Solicitor Rosemary Humway-Warmuth listen.

WHEELING — Re-opening the Capitol Music Hall and cooperating with Ohio County commissioners were two major goals of Mayor Andy McKenzie when he took office July 1, 2008. On Thursday, McKenzie — joining other city and county leaders to discuss what was accomplished in the first year of his four-year term — said the Capitol will provide a major boost to the city upon its re-opening, tentatively set for September. “I promise you that that theater (Capitol) will lead to other development in downtown Wheeling,” he said of the 1928 venue, which was recently purchased for $615,000 by the Wheeling-Ohio County Convention and Visitors Bureau. It has been closed since May 2007. “One of the ways to have a downtown that is prosperous is to drive people into downtown,” McKenzie said, noting entertainment options at the Capitol, WesBanco Arena, Heritage Port and other destinations are vital to moving people through the heart of the city. McKenzie also said it is important to continue regular communication with county officials to make sure they are cooperating to attract economic development. “When I was running for office, the single most important issue to people was working with the Ohio County commission,” he said, noting The Highlands development, though outside Wheeling’s city limits, is a great asset to the area.