STREETS, FESTIVAL DISCUSSED — Traffic signals and streetlights along Main Street, the future of Follansbee Community Days and a proposed bridge across Allegheny Creek were discussed by Follansbee Council on Monday. — Warren Scott
FOLLANSBEE — The future of Follansbee Community Days, traffic issues on Main Street and a proposed bridge across Allegheny Creek were among matters discussed by Follansbee Council on Monday.
Mayor David Velegol Jr. said while this year’s Community Days festival is slated to include all of the entertainment and events it has been known for, he envisions a scaled back version of the event next year.
“This is going to be the last day we do Community Days as is,” said Velegol, who said he can’t justify expending the same amount of funds while the city has been contending with a budget crunch.
He and other city officials reported earlier that the city had lost about $1 million in revenue with the closing of the Mountain State Carbon coke plant.
“With no money for (street) paving and things like that, I can’t keep going back to council for money,” said Velegol.
He said the festival has benefited from faithful sponsors in its business community but said it’s difficult to continue asking them for donations.
Velegol said its largest expenses have included the fireworks display and entertainment, estimating it costs more than $30,000 each year for the musical acts, stage and related equipment.
He said next year Community Days may be limited to one day, with a couple of lower-priced bands, the parade and kickoff dinner.
The mayor called upon fellow Community Days Committee members Paul DiGiacinto and Don Layburn for comment on the situation.
DiGiacinto said the three-day event has been enjoyed by many and family reunions and other gatherings often were planned around it,
But he added, “Money is getting tight with everybody. It’s hard to raise it.”
Layburn said even the cost of security guards and portable restrooms has increased in recent years. But he added the group hopes council will support it in its effort to making this year’s event, the 30th for Community Days, a memorable one.
Velegol is expected to request $25,000 from council at its next regular meeting Monday.
Council also heard from resident Jim Cicchirillo who said he observed a near collision between two vehicles at the intersection of Raymond and Main streets.
The intersection is one of three along Main, which is part of state Route 2, from which the West Virginia Division of Highways has removed traffic signals.
Cicchrillo said with that change, it has become difficult for drivers to turn from Raymond into the street and the situation has been made worse by other drivers traveling Main at a high speed and parked vehicles that make it difficult for drivers on Main to see if it’s clear to turn.
He suggested prohibiting left turns from Raymond onto Main and reducing the hours at which vehicles may park near the intersection during peak traffic periods.
Cicchrillo said he doesn’t want the American Legion post and businesses along the street to be negatively impacted but suggested a sign could be posted stating spaces near the corners may not be used during certain hours.
City Police Chief Larry Rea suggested eliminating at least one parking space “until we get this corrected someway, somehow.”
Velegol said a letter to the WVDOH from council protesting the signal’s removal has fallen on deaf ears. He said instead the city may appeal to residents to participate in a mass letter-writing campaign aimed at the governor’s office.
In related business, Velegol said estimates for the installation of new streetlights along Main south from Allegheny Street came in higher than expected, and it’s likely the city will need to reduce the project from three to two blocks.
Following the meeting, he said its original estimate didn’t include about $150,000 for a gas line relocation while $75,000 of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds reserved for the streetlights had to be used to replace the water plant’s control system.
Velegol said the control system was to be part of a major pending upgrade to the system, which is being overseen and funded in large part by the Army Corps of Engineers, but it could not wait until the federal agency secured bids for the project.
First Ward Councilwoman Tammy Johnson reiterated a need for new streelights at the south end of Main Street, saying many have complained it’s very dark there.
Velegol noted the basketball court at Mahan Playground is lighted at night but was told those lights go off at midnight.
Councilman at large John Casinelli suggested temporary solar lights used to illuminate areas of Main temporarily could be moved to that area.
Also on Monday, City Clerk David Kurcina asked when progress will be made on a proposed pedestrian bridge across Allegheny Creek. He noted the Wheeling engineering firm of Matyskiela and Grant were hired in February 2023 to design the project.
“This was approved a year and a half ago. It should have been done,” he said.
Casinelli said the project must be approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the city could be liable for any flooding caused by partially obstructing the creek.
A major flood in 2016 prompted the city to raze one building that stood over part of the creek and a house with a driveway that extended across it.
The buildings were removed with funds from FEMA’s buyout program, which provides money for residents to relocate from flood-prone areas on the condition permanent structures aren’t built there.
Earlier this year, engineers with the project told council they were seeking FEMA’s approval for their designs, but Velegol did not know the current status of it.
They said concrete abutments and short stairways could be extended at each side of the creek to support a prefabricated bridge extending over it without the creek becoming clogged.
Third Ward Councilman Charles McCoy also has pushed for the bridge, noting classes from Brooke Intermediate North have taken city steps near the creek as part of excursions to Follansbee Park. He said the path was seen as a safer alternative to walking near the heavier traffic of Main Street.
In other business, council:
• Heard from Matt DeAngelis, who was hired to lead a team of supervisors for Follansbee Park during the summer. Approved by council at a special meeting Saturday, DeAngelis will be joined by Melissa Borders, Joyce Griskevich and Ryan Scherich in overseeing the park and its swimming pool on a part-time basis.
Also hired was Christina Crawford who, as the pool’s licensed operator, is responsible for periodic testing of its water. The five appointments were made following the unexpected departure of former park manager Tom Ludewig.
Fifth Ward Councilwoman Wendy DeAngelis, Matt’s mother, had abstained from voting on his appointment.
On Monday, Matt DeAngelis advised the pool needs new deck chairs, as the current ones all are damaged; and the locker rooms need additional mats to prevent slipping.
He said he’s been cleaning the baby pool in an effort to address a slickness in its surface but may need to drain and scrub it.
Velegol said DeAngelis, Crawford, Public Works Director Bill Secrist and others were part of a team effort that allowed the pool to be opened last weekend.
• Observed a moment of silence for the late Bill Schwertfeger, who died on May 26.
A World War II veteran who received the Bronze Star for aiding a wounded comrade while under enemy fire, Schwertfeger was acknowledged by Follansbee Council and the Brooke County Commission for his 100th birthday earlier this year.
He had followed his military service with 30 years as a teacher, principal and instructional supervisor for school districts on both sides of the Ohio River and served on Follansbee Council for a time.
“We lost one of our great citizens,” said Velegol.
Kurcina said, “He was a good man, an all-around good person.”
“He was a fixture on East Street,” 3rd Ward Councilman Nick Cekinovich noted of the long-time resident of the city’s Orchards section, adding Schwertfeger enjoyed speaking to neighbors, sharing stories of his military service and playing patriotic music in his home.