Vacant Structure Ordinance Passes
Petition to change two-man cruiser rule acceptedBy CASEY JUNKINS
Article Photos
WHEELING - Owners of vacant structures that violate city building codes now have a choice: tear down, fix up or pay out.
City Council on Tuesday approved by a 5-0 vote the controversial vacant structure ordinance, which officials believe will help clean up the neighborhoods. The ordinance goes into effect immediately, with a one-year grace period for vacant building owners to either get a tenant, repair their structures, including utility hook-ups, or face fines.
In a separate matter, residents will learn by Aug. 18 if they will get to vote on whether to overturn a 1972 law that requires two police officers in each patrol car. City Council on Tuesday accepted a certified petition signed by more than 10 percent of the city's voters calling for a special election on the two-officer cruiser issue.
With the vacant structure ordinance, council members Gloria Delbrugge, Vernon Seals, James Tiu, Don Atkinson and Mayor Andy McKenzie voted 5-0 - Vice Mayor Eugene Fahey and Councilman Robert "Herk" Henry were absent - to approve the measure because they believe it will assist the city's efforts to eliminate slum and blight.
Under the powers granted by the West Virginia Municipal Home Rule Pilot Program, the city is now able to charge property owners $200 annually for a building that is vacant for one to two years; $400 for a building vacant two to three years; $600 for three to four years; $800 for four to five years vacant; and $1,600 for a building that is vacant for at least five years.
The $1,600 fee will increase by $300 annually for buildings that remain vacant.
City Manager Robert Herron said the vacant structure ordinance is designed to work in conjunction with the recently adopted lien enforcement ordinance, which is also a home rule power.
"This program is going to generate revenue. The registration fees will go back into enforcement of the program," he said.
"The exterior of the building must be in violation of code, and there must be no active utilities to the building," Herron added in explaining what structures would be in violation of the ordinance.
Though council approved the ordinance, resident William Hefner questioned the action.
"This ordinance, as written, is an administrative nightmare," he said of the vacant structure regulations.
As for the cruiser petition, City Clerk Janice Jones said a total of 2,469 registered voters signed to allow a vote to rescind the two-officer per cruiser mandate.
According to Section 17 of the City Charter, "If the petition be certified to council ... council shall call for a special election, unless a general election is to be held within 90 days thereafter." The estimated cost of a special election is $70,000.
Following the meeting, McKenzie said City Solicitor Rosemary Humway-Warmuth will now draft an ordinance calling for the special election.
The ordinance will be up for first reading on Aug. 4, with the vote set for Aug. 18.
Delbrugge, who is openly opposed to changing the two-officer requirement, had no comment following the meeting.
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gliderider
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07-27-09 8:14 PM
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lol....start tearing down the vacant buildings....there goes half of wheeling..
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myhometown
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07-23-09 10:27 AM
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Ellis: I think you need to do some research on the tax base in PA. I had a family member that lived there and I can tell you that the resident's are taxed heavily in Pennsylvania. Also, I for one don't mind that we have to have our vehicles annually inspected. I personally feel better knowing that I, my children, and other's, are required to drive vehicles tat are deemed safe!
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myhometown
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07-23-09 10:20 AM
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EGMAN - you are correct! Most City employees are paid well below the average moderate income base. Most City employees that I know of don't do it for the salary (they know that the it's not a get rich job), they do it because they know that they can rely on a steady paycheck. They also do it because most of them LIKE working in a public capacity and feel as though they are giving something back to the community. (In some cases, obviously an "unappreciative" community!)
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GETACLUE
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07-23-09 8:53 AM
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Ellis I can quantify. You state that Wheeling is loosing population and businesses every year which is true, however there has been no TAX INCREASES on those remaining businesses so it only stands to reason that this 1.49 MILLION surplus has come from the HARD WORK OF A TALENTED AND DEDICATED WORK FORCE.
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ElmGroveMan
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07-23-09 8:15 AM
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The average I would say is probably around $600/yr
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ElmGroveMan
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07-23-09 8:14 AM
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Ellios you are very off base with your comments. Inflation alone is worth more than 3%. The rise of the cost of living is far greater than 3%. City workers for the most part do work 3% harder because they have less workers to complete the tasks they have been presented. Do you really understand what a 3% pay increase means for the city workers. It is a drop in the bucket. Majority will see less than $1000/yr or $41 pay MINUS taxes
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EllisWyatt
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07-23-09 6:47 AM
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CLUE Are they working 3% harder and 3% smarter OR is the city overtaxing the taxpayers? Which do you think it might be, hmm? Do you really think that the hard work of city workers produced a $1.49 million surplus? Quantify that, please.
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mernie
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07-22-09 10:32 PM
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A major problem with the city's numerous empty buildings is the fact that the actual owners are unknown. Perhaps the city, if it is not already doing so, should hire a person to simply research each building until each owner is verified. With the excess funds in the budget it seems that this would be worthwhile. This is a tedious, laborious process, but could be very worthwhile.
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GETACLUE
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07-22-09 10:32 PM
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EllisWyatt....City workers are working more than 3% smarter or 3% harder they are working $1.49 million smarter and harder. SO YES THEY DESERVE THAT AND MORE.
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GETACLUE
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07-22-09 10:32 PM
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EllisWyatt....City workers are working more than 3% smarter or 3% harder they are working $1.49 million smarter and harder. SO YES THEY DESERVE THAT AND MORE.
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GETACLUE
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07-22-09 10:32 PM
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EllisWyatt....City workers are working more than 3% smarter or 3% harder they are working $1.49 million smarter and harder. SO YES THEY DESERVE THAT AND MORE.
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GETACLUE
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07-22-09 10:32 PM
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EllisWyatt....City workers are working more than 3% smarter or 3% harder they are working $1.49 million smarter and harder. SO YES THEY DESERVE THAT AND MORE.
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GETACLUE
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07-22-09 10:31 PM
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EllisWyatt....City workers are working more than 3% smarter or 3% harder they are working $1.49 million smarter and harder. SO YES THEY DESERVE THAT AND MORE.
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GETACLUE
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07-22-09 10:30 PM
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EllisWyatt....City workers are working more than 3% smarter or 3% harder they are working $1.49 million smarter and harder. SO YES THEY DESERVE THAT AND MORE.
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atoddh
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07-22-09 6:55 PM
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A more important issue is why are so many structures vacant? What is being done to replace the huge payroll losses of W-P which will result in additional vacant structures. What will the "Steel Valley" do when there is no more steel?? This should now be the concern of elected officials.
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EllisWyatt
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07-22-09 6:14 PM
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hometown Pennsylvania doesn't tax you on clothes and most food. It does not have a B&O tax. The state tax is FLAT RATE, 3.07%. Insurance is FAR lower. Ohio does not require vehicle inspections and also does not have a B&O tax. Why should a business pay taxes on GROSS revenues, not out of gross PROFITS? Why do the people tolerate the political corruption? Why would anyone spend $250,000 to get elected to a small town office? Where is all of the "development" money going? (That's right, to properties owned by politicians or their cronies). No, West Virginia is not the only place to tax and regulate. But it is one of the few places that is trying to push a 3% raise while sitting on a $1.49 million surplus. Why are city workers entitled to a raise? Are they working 3% smarter? Are they 3% more efficient? Have they cut their costs by 3%? No? Why, then, do they DESERVE a raise? Don't taxpayers DESERVE a tax cut or do taxpayers exist to serve city employees?
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true2bun
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07-22-09 3:13 PM
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oh i guess it does not violate city codes so I am safe, I should have at least read the first sentence of the article before getting to excited about nuttin
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true2bun
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07-22-09 3:13 PM
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I only come to my vacation home in wheeling twice or maybe three times a year, will it be considered vacant I ask you council persons?
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myhometown
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07-22-09 12:22 PM
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EllisWyatt: 1. Taxes are assessed everywhere in the USA. Not simply here in Wheeling! And as far as establishing regulations? They are often necessary in order to maintain order and life quality! 2. The City employees that are getting a 3% raise? are "TAX PAYERS" and HOMEOWNERS too! 3. Punish people who have actually investe in Whg? Who? People like, slum-landlords? People who bought property just to collect a rent check, who don't bother to paint or maintain the property and then wonder someday why the CAN'T rent it?
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JamesT
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07-22-09 9:56 AM
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The excess tax coffer could be tap into to remove these eye sores and the propert could be auctioned off to replete the tax dollars used. A win - win scenario for all!
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AlexanderShulgin
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07-22-09 7:42 AM
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How do dilapidated buildings bring people and business? This sounds like it may be a start to help alleviate the ridiculousness of letting buildings fall down on their own or becoming a horrible eye sore. Certain towns in new England, Stockbridge Mass for one, have strict regulations on what can be done to historic properties- paint color , additions, etc. Stockbridge is thriving.
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ElmGroveMan
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07-22-09 7:42 AM
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wish there were more details as what constitutes a vacant structure and out of ordinace.
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EllisWyatt
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07-22-09 6:52 AM
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City of Wheeling logic: 1. Let's overtax, overregulate and chase away taxpaying citizens and businesses. 2. Let's take more and more money from those who remain, so that we can have a $1.49 million surplus and give raises to our employees during a recession (while the people who pay the taxes are suffering). 3. Let's punish people who have actually invested in Wheeling but, who, may not be able to rent a property due to the fact that jobs and 1% of our population walk out the door each year. Sounds like a great plan!
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