HOME RULE: Wheeling Wants It – Weirton Says NOWAY.

The City of Wheeling has applied for it and Weirton has turned it down. So just what exactly is home rule for city government? In a nutshell it gives city government MORE power. While the residents of Weirton were smart enough to voice there opinion over it and get the notion out of city Council's head, the Residents of Wheeling could be in a for one hell of a ride. The biggest fear the residents of Weirton had over this was that it would scare away new business. Now if that was the biggest fear, which is legitimate, would that not be a concern for Wheeling? After all businesses in Wheeling are dropping like flies, city government has don very little to offer incentives to business leaving for the Highlands to stay or offer any incentives for business to move into Wheeling. Oh yeah there was that Schedule Star Company, but that was a lot of Fluff, although it is a "local Company which was actually based in New Jersey" it was learned that Schedule Star was actually bought out for a Hefty Sum of money. That is a whole other BS story we may get to later. But back to the point here, home rule is just going to make the Wheeling City council, which does very little in the first pace for businesses or the city for that matter, more powerful. To do what? Side note here: Great they are taking initiative to possible tear down a city block? Hmm for what though? You think there are interested parties out there to come in and purchase these vacant lots and build on them IN Wheeling?

Down in Huntington there seems to be some concern: here is an excerpt form the Herald Dispatch

HUNTINGTON -- State lawmakers who already have seen Huntington's home rule plan are giving positive reviews, but are leery of the five-year pilot program that would allow the city to enact its proposals.

Both Del. Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell, and Sen. Bob Plymale, D-Wayne, say there are concerns that the program is unconstitutional.

Morgantown officials, who made the strongest push for the bill's passage during the legislative session earlier this year, are now saying they will not submit a proposal to the state panel that will decide which city or cities get to participate.

"The general argument is that the Legislature is giving up its authority (to the panel) and that the program is outside of the framework of the constitution," Sobonya said. "Of course, it's not unconstitutional until a court says it is." Huntington City Councilman Cal Kent, who wrote part of the city's home rule plan, said he also has heard concerns about the pilot program. "This could get thrown into court for the next two years, but we just aren't willing to throw in the towel when we have an opportunity to make our case," he said.

Sobonya voted against the pilot program as did all other Cabell County delegates except for Jim Morgan. Plymale and Cabell Sen. Evan Jenkins voted for the pilot program.

Sobonya said she opposed the program because it is too broad and was introduced late in the session. She said it would be better if the proposals in the city's plan were introduced as individual bills during the 2008 legislative session, which begins in January.

Asked if Sobonya would be willing to sponsor any of those bills, she said, "The jury's still out for me. I was just given the plan last week, so I need more time to look through it. I think the city definitely needs more flexibility in the way they collect delinquent fees, but I am definitely not a proponent of increasing or creating new taxes. If their plan is revenue neutral and will eliminate regressive taxes, then I'm willing to listen."

Plymale said it's time that the Legislature look at comprehensive legislation giving municipalities alternative taxing measures. He said he's willing to sponsor such legislation, but the Cabell delegation needs guidance from the city.

"The initiative needs to come from the mayor and council, and it needs to be supported on both sides," he said. "We have gone over some home rule elements in the past in regard to pensions, but when we did that at the council's request, we found out later that it wasn't supported by the mayor's office."

Personally I hope if Wheeling gets selected as part of this Pilot programs, the residents of Wheeling have the good sense to remove ALL members of City council and reelect a group of people that have some common sense and the best interest of Wheeling at Heart. There are several members on council that have been there way to long and have become complacent and need replaced. One of the biggest campaigns I look forward to is the second ward council race this year. Charles Ballouz announced his intention to run for Wheeling City Council, 2nd Ward and I think that is one that is LONG overdue. Good luck and with any luck he gets elected and helps Wheeling rather than hinders it.