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Craig Howell MEETING – Town residents gathered in the Weirton Hall of the Millsop Community Center on Thursday for a town hall meeting hosted by the Weirton Parks and Recreation Council to discuss the future of the land baseball player Edwin J. Bowman and its connection to the Weirton Public Safety Building Project.
WEIRTON – While changes are planned for the future of the Edwin J. Bowman baseball field, it may not necessarily be a site for a public safety building project.
City residents gathered in the Weirton Hall of the Millsop Community Center on Thursday evening for a town hall hosted by the Weirton Parks and Recreation Council to hear a discussion on the two projects.
“We’re here to educate you on what we think are two issues”, Park board chairman Edwin J. Bowman said. “There was no final decision.”
Weirton’s council, for several months, has been discussing the possibility of developing a new public security building, to serve as the headquarters of the Weirton Police Department.
After authorizing a feasibility study for the project, the council met in a working session in September with representatives from Horne and King Architects, who had reviewed 16 sites in the city, identifying four as the most viable, including the baseball field.
The park council opposed the idea, citing a variety of planned improvements, some of which are expected to be funded through a federal grant for water and land conservation. Some of this work has already been undertaken, including the installation of a new dashboard and a sound system.
Bowman presented a timeline for the project, also noting that he has yet to see the results of a feasibility study, a cost estimate or a decision on where to fund such a project.
“This is, in my opinion, the time to talk about it”, he said.
Horne and King’s superior proposal would be a 37,000 square foot facility. As part of the park council presentation, Bowman offered ideas on how to reduce its size and scope, and offered a suggestion for another site.
On behalf of the city, City Manager Mike Adams explained that officials were looking for alternatives, announcing that they had already reduced the size of the proposal to 18,165 square feet. This would make it possible to reconsider more of the 16 proposed sites, he said.
“There are going to be more discussions and more decisions” Adams said. “As the footprint decreases, it opens up alternatives. “
The council also plans to host its own town hall to review the project with the public, Adams said.
Police Chief Charlie Kush said he would be ready to answer residents’ questions and even show them the department’s existing facilities to show them why such a project was proposed.
“If citizens saw the state of the police service, they would be amazed” Kush said.
Several citizens also spoke at town hall on Thursday, all agreeing that a new facility is needed, but most are opposed to the idea of using the baseball field.
Among them was former city mayor Dean Harris, who recalled some of the city’s earlier efforts to establish a new police headquarters.
“We all went to Washington to try to get funds to renovate the Cove School” he said about work while he was on city council in 1992.
Harris also, however, voiced concerns about the possible politicization of the project, saying he had heard it was brought up as part of the interview process to fill the Ward 2 council seat.
David Connors, a student at Weirton Madonna High School, said he knew a new police department was needed, explaining that his father had been in law enforcement for many years, but noted the opportunities for recreation offered by the baseball field, including Easter egg hunts. and youth leagues.
“I believe that if we remove the land, there will be less” Connors said.
Lawyer Michael Nogay highlighted the history of the estate, and also as a community focal point that connects generations of families to Weirton.
“There is really nothing left that reminds you of the rest” he said. “We need a new police force. We don’t need it on Cove Field.
Resident Ray Gatjka was the only resident who appeared to speak out in favor of using the land for the public security building, saying he has his own recollections of his time as a player and coach there, Weir High is planning to build a field on campus and, he believes, there are other avenues for the Weirton Madonna baseball team.
“These buildings would all be within walking distance of each other” he said from the perspective.
Resident and business owner John Greco, however, encouraged the city to use the project as a way to invest in a brighter downtown, removing some of the more unsightly properties for the department’s use.
“Let’s get rid of the scourge and build a new police station” said Greco. “Let’s kill two birds with one stone.”
Mayor Harold Miller was also on site, saying he was not in favor of using the ball field for the project and that discussions will continue. No council member was present.
(Howell can be reached at [email protected], and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)
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