Although there’s still a long way to go before ground is broken and officials haven’t yet determined what exactly will be inside Bridgeport’s Indoor Recreation Complex, for those wondering if things are still taking place they don’t need to wonder. On Monday, the next step in the process will take place at the Bridgeport City Council meeting.

 

The meeting is set to begin at 7 p.m. There is no work session planned prior to that.

 

Council will be asked to authorize City Manager Kim Haws to enter into a contract of engagement with Bowles Rice, LLP to serve as bond counsel for the indoor facility. Once the project begins, the city will have to issue bonds to pay for the project’s construction.

 

“We’re taking another step in the process of making sure the funding mechanism will be in order when we’re ready to go,” said City Clerk Andrea Kerr. “We already have a finance committee, which is the group that has recommended utilizing this company as bond counsel. We’re trying to stay ahead of the game and move the process along. If approved, this will do that.”

 

The indoor recreation complex recently saw Council approved a $1.999 million contract for Omni Associates out of Fairmont to handle design and other responsibilities on the project. Although a total price for the project has not yet been determined, numbers exceeding $20 million have been discussed.

 

The project will be funded by an additional 1 percent sales tax that went into place on July 1 of 2016 in the City of Bridgeport. The first year of collections from that fund will be in by the end of this month. Financial institutions have told the city they need six to 10 quarters of consistent revenue from the sales tax before being able to issue the bonds to pay for the facility.

 

Also Monday, Council’s only unfinished item of business involves a second reading of an ordinance for “utility clearance.” The ordinance deals with maintaining wires, poles, conduits and underground transition of lines along and under city streets. Franchise agreements determines the maintenance of those items and more than one of those agreements have expired with this ordinance addressing the new arrangements.

 

Council will also revisit a rezoning request by Darren F. Abraham, the owner of Abraham Linc, to rezone property behind his existing facility that is drawing some concern by residents of the Rosewood Heights development. The Bridgeport Planning Commission has recommended that the rezoning be allowed, which Abraham said will be used to create a new parking lot for the company in an area he said isn’t conducive for building any structures.

 

Members of Council aren’t necessarily opposed to the rezoning. However, at the last meeting it was determined due to the nature of many rezoning requests and concerns of residents that time to review the request and the area would be prudent.

 

Council will be asked to pass resolutions to become a participating employer of both the West Virginia Municipal Police Officers’ and Firefighters Retirement System. Kerr said the city is already involved with the organization and the request for a formal resolution came from the agency.

 

The only other items of business involve approving the 2017-18 Bridgeport Cemetery Budget and certifying the election results. The canvass of the election took place Thursday.

 

There will be a report from Haws and Mayor Robert “Bob” Greer, which will be his final mayor’s report. Greer will assume a seat on Council, while newcomer Andy Lang will be the city’s mayor when the first meeting is held in July.

 

The meeting is open to the public. There is a public forum near the start of each meeting for anyone wishing to address the city’s governing body.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Council hearing input from City Manager Kim Haws during an April meeting, the Bridgeport Recreation Complex sign is shown below.