Perhaps Bridgeport's Most Iconic Structure Ready to Get Six-Figure Plus Upgrade as Council Gives Okay
By Jeff Toquinto on March 12, 2025
Bridgeport’s Main Street corridor should soon see one of its oldest buildings get a six-figure facelift.
On Monday, Council approved a contract that will upgrade one of the city’s most recognizable sites. The governing body approved a contract with City Construction Company of Clarksburg to replace the doors and windows of the Benedum Civic Center for $116,395. /Council%203-10-25%20Shuttleworth.jpg)
Included in the proposal is a 10 percent contingency fee of $11,639.50 for a total cost of $128,034.50.
Included in the proposal is a 10 percent contingency fee of $11,639.50 for a total cost of $128,034.50.
Parks and Recreation Director Joe Shuttleworth said this falls in line with multiple upgrades to the building that is home to his office and administrative staff.
“Over the past few years, we’ve been doing a lot of upgrades to the Civic Center for necessity, but also to approve the energy efficiency of the building,” he said. “We’ve completed HVAC upgrades, there is a new roof, and we also redid the front porch as far as major projects go. This is the next step.”
As the price tag shows, it is a big one. Shuttleworth said he believes a lot of the windows are original to the building. In total, 52 windows will be replaced as well as a bunch of doors, he said. One of the main ones is the door leading from the balcony where Light Up Night festivities are held back into administrative offices.
“You look at the windows, which is the biggest part of this project, and you can see some storm windows were added. But these will be the /Council%203-10-25%20Windows%20BCC.jpg)
new vinyl insulated, double hung windows,” he said. “It will benefit the efficiency, and they will match the original design of the building.”
new vinyl insulated, double hung windows,” he said. “It will benefit the efficiency, and they will match the original design of the building.”
The doors, he said, are all exterior; roughly four of them and a set of double doors as well. He said a few are in bad shape.
One long-standing item also concluded on Monday. Council voted on the final leg of an ordinance to create an emergency services fee for those staying in Bridgeport’s hotels and motels. On Jan. 13, the ordinance was first introduced to members of Bridgeport City Council. The initial fee proposed, at $6 per room per night at the city’s lodging facilities, will go directly toward emergency services in the city.
However, there have been modifications since first introduced in January. First, the effective date of the ordinance is now set for July 1 of this year.
The second change involved the fee. As amended, the fee will now be $3 from July 1, 2025, to June 30 of 2026. At that time, it will go to $4.50 until June 30 of 2027. Then, from July 1 of 2027 to June 30 of 2028, the fee would go to the originally suggested total of $6./Council%203-10-25%20Ludwig.jpg)
City Manager Patrick Ford said all $3 the first year will go to the fire department. In year two, $3 would go to the fire department and $1.50 to the police department. In the third year, Ford said $3 of the fee would go to fire and $3 would go to police.
Steve Ludwing, Director of Hospitality at Charles Pointe, addressed the group on opposition to the fee. City Clerk Lauren Rogers also read a letter from John Aderholt from Century Hospitality into the record.
Rogers read from Aderholt’s letter that “We are writing to request a modification to the draft ordinance imposing a transient occupancy fee, specifically exempting extended-stay guests staying 14 consecutive nights or more.” Council did not agree to a modification, or from Ludwig’s request to table it to allow hotel stays to return to pre-COVID levels.
No one else spoke on the matter. One other individual, however, did speak to wrap up the public comments. Bridgeport resident Jason Young, the chairman of the Cultural Foundation of Harrison County, spoke to Council.
Young talked about the Foundation, as well as introducing several board members in attendance. He also talked on direct benefits to the community, as well as to the City of Bridgeport, from funding for arts-related events at Bridgeport High School to the Bridgeport Farmers /Council%203-10-25%20Young.jpg)
Market and more. He also said the Foundation works to serve the community, including Bridgeport.
Market and more. He also said the Foundation works to serve the community, including Bridgeport.
“We are poised and prepared to be agents of positive change and thought leaders as you deal with sometimes complicated cultural issues …,” said Young.
A pair of items involving the Bridgeport Police Department were approved by Council and will allow Mayor Andy Lang to enter into agreement with the Division of Justice and Community Service to administer two grants. One grant, for $60,000, will be utilized by the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, while the other, for $25,000, will be used for the Prevention Resource Officer (PRO) positions. Both are JAG (Justice Assistant Grants) grants.
Sam Spatafore’s reappointment to the Bridgeport Zoning Appeals Board was also approved. Spatafore’s new three-year term will run from/Council%203-10-25%20Lt_%20Jacob%20Thompson.jpg)
Feb. 1, 2025, to Jan. 31, 2028.
Feb. 1, 2025, to Jan. 31, 2028.
Council gave preliminary approval of an alley abandonment request by Beverly and Brandon Shaw. The address is 208 Williams Avenue.
At the end of the regular session, Council adjourned into executive session. The discussion was on replacing the unexpired term of Council member Jon Griffith who resigned last week. Ford said no announcement about a replacement, or the possibility of not naming a replacement with a new Council being seated July 1, would be made.
City Recorder Hank Murray served as interim mayor. Mayor Andy Lang was not in attendance due to this passing of his brother-in-law Martin Queen. Murray asked those in attendance to pray for Lang, his wife Lisa, and the Queen family.
Bridgeport Fire Department Lieutenant Jacob Thompson gave the invocation.
Editor's Note: Top photo is of Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Director Joe Shuttleworth, while some of the windows that will be replaced at the Benedum Civic Center are shown in the second photo. In the third image. Steve Ludwig addresses Council on the emergency services fee for hotels and motels that was approved Monday. Jason Young of the Cultural Foundation is shown in the fourth photo, while Lt. Jacob Thompson, right, is shown giving the invocation with Police Chief Mark Rogers shown on the left.
