Westover City Council on Monday approved a $110,000 contract with Region VI Planning & Development Council to serve as the city’s administrator for the upcoming Holland Avenue project.
It was also explained Monday that the city will be seeking a loan through the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council to help finance the work.
The $3.8 million project will address about 2,000 feet of Holland Avenue, including failing sanitary sewer and stormwater lines beneath the street’s surface and the large retaining wall that runs along its lower portion.
Westover plans to use all of its $1.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars for the project. The Monongalia County Commission has agreed to provide $125,000.
The rest will need to be financed. Making sure that happens will be a big part of Region VI’s job.
Westover City Attorney Tim Stranko said Region VI will “Make sure we miss no deadlines. Make all the filings we need and make sure we close on the loan at the time we need to close on the loan.”
Members of council asked Region VI Project Administrator Shelby Johnson if the city had any choice but to hire Region VI.
The answer, Stranko said, is not really.
“We don’t have the staff to administer this project and all the requirements to take down this loan. That’s what she’ll be, the staff for the administration of this loan,” Stranko said.
The city is also currently soliciting bids for a project accountant.
In other Westover news, Stranko said the city has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court by former Westover City Councilor Ralph Mullins.
Mullins filed the suit in September alleging he was retaliated against for speaking out about issues within the city’s police department as well as violations of state code and the city’s charter by the city former mayor and council.
The suit names as defendants the city of Westover, former Mayor Dave Johnson, Stranko, City Clerk Sandy Weiss, current council members Ida “Edie” E. Viola, Duane Tartar, Steve Andryzcik and Jeffrey Friend and former council member Gary Weber.
Also on Monday, Police Chief Joe Adams said the Westover Police Department will send five new hires to the West Virginia State Police Academy in January, growing the department’s roster of officers from 12 to 17 by mid-May.
Lastly, council approved a $500 donation for a Shop with a Cop event to be held in conjunction with Granville and Star City.
