Weirton looking at landfill contract, purchases | News, Sports, Jobs

WEIRTON — The city is facing a new waste disposal contract with an increased cost, while looking at repairs to the headquarters fire station and the purchase of a new cruiser for the city’s police department.

As part of discussions Wednesday, the city’s Finance Committee recommended a contract with the Brooke County Landfill for the disposal of municipal waste and recycling at a cost of $40 per ton for solid waste and $85 per ton for recyclables.

Public Works Director Rod Rosnick called the contract “substantially higher” than a previous agreement, which he noted had solid waste at $37 per ton and recyclables at $40 per ton.

Rosnick explained he had checked with other landfills in the region, but gasoline, overtime and other related costs would have made the other options more expensive.

The contract with Brooke County Landfill, if approved, would be for four years.

Ward 7 Councilman Terry Weigel noted the state mandates municipalities to offer recycling programs, but participation from citizens has decreased over the years.

“Please take it to a recycler if at all possible,” Weigel said.

Members of the committee noted council may have to look at adjusting the city’s sanitation rates as a result of the cost increase.

The contract will go before the full City Council for consideration during its meeting at 7 p.m., Monday.

Also moving forward to council are two resolutions affecting the station: One for four new garage doors and another for repairs to the station’s roof.

The purchase of the four garage doors, as well as one operator, has a listed cost of $48,520.

“We budgeted $20,000,” Fire Chief Kevin Himmelrick said, explaining prices for the doors have since gone up.

A proposed budget revision for the current fiscal year, also recommended by the committee, would provide the additional funding.

Himmelrick said most of the existing doors have been in use for 25 years, noting some of the equipment on Bay 4 came from the original city building in Weirton’s north end.

The second resolution is for an agreement with N.F. Mansuetto and Sons Inc. for roof repairs to the headquarters station, at a cost of $6,925.

“We saw the pictures. It needs fixed,” Ward 6 Councilman Enzo Fracasso said.

The Finance Committee has recommended three resolutions for the purchase of a 2022 Ford Explorer SUV for use by the city police department’s patrol division.

The resolutions include the cost of the vehicle at $32,884; a contract with ISV-US for the uplifting of the vehicle at $11,987; and a contract with Lauttamus Communications for a Coban in-car camera system at $7,045.

Police Chief Charlie Kush said much of the funding was available as a result of savings from the department’s overtime budget, as well as the proposed revision for the current fiscal year budget.