Meter Stickers at Centre Market to Be Removed

Nearly seven years ago more than 30 artists gathered in the historic Centre Market area to begin an initiative prompted by the then-chair of the Wheeling Arts and Cultural Commission.

The idea was to transform more than 60 parking meters surrounding the pair of market houses along Market Street and Lane B into distinctive works of art by painting them with juried designs. Recently, however, city employees posted stickers on each of the meters to inform parkers about the Park Mobile app city council approved more than three years ago.

“I really have no idea how that took place, and we’re really going to try not to have that happen again in the future. And I don’t know if we’re going to be able to fix it, but we’re going to try,” said Bob Herron, Wheeling’s city manager. “I agree the stickers could have been placed somewhere else, like the pole, and I apologize that it took place in the first place.

“The implementation of the Park Mobile system is progress, and that particular app is one of the most successful in the United States, but they did not need to be placed on decorative parking meters,” he admitted. “Those meters are very popular in the community and with the people who come in from out of town to visit us here. They look great, and the idea spread to East Wheeling and down around Wesbanco Arena for the Nailers.”

But can they be burned or melted off?

“That I do not know,” Herron said.

Can the removal of the stickers be investigated?

“Absolutely.”

“It’s really unfortunate the City didn’t realize what was going on, but I am happy to hear the City Manager is researching how to get them removed,” said Donaghy, who resigned as the chairperson in 2017 to concentrate on business ventures. “Having the meters painted was an extended process that included application and jury processes. The Commission at the time was evaluating a number of possible public art projects in the city, and this one turned out to be very successful.

“We made sure what the artists wanted to paint on the meters had some reference to the City as it is today, or that their design told a story about our history, and that’s exactly what we accomplished,” she explained. “To see the stickers for some phone app cover up those stories was very sad for me and for many others. It was a real punch in the gut that made all of us question the leadership our elected officials are offering the residents.”

Salvation of Art

It was an oil-based paint utilized by the artists during the decorating of the parking meters, and some of the meters took a number of hours while others were not completed for a few weeks.

Once completed and unveiled, the meters were heralded by leaders of other communities in the tri-state area, and educators of Central Catholic High School decided to practice the art form on meters along 14^th Street. The Wheeling Nailers did the same by decorating a few meters in close proximity to Wesbanco Arena.

“We knew people liked the idea because the business owners in Centre Market seemed to really appreciate the idea,” Donaghy recalled. “The mayor at the time was Andy McKenzie, and he was 100 percent behind the project because of all of the other positives that were taking place at Centre Market at the time, and the meters have been credited with being a very important part of the transformation that took place in that area.

“We were hoping it would spread to the downtown, but that hasn’t happened yet. Maybe it will if the area does get more businesses in the future, but if it does let’s hope this debacle doesn’t happen again,” she said. “I did reach out to Rosemary Ketchum (Ward 3 Council) and (Mayor) Glenn Elliott on Facebook since they are both so active on the (social media) platform, and I’ve heard nothing back from the mayor. Rosemary said she would look into it, but that was more than a week ago, and I’ve heard nothing more since then.”

Centre Market has become a popular tourist attraction for those visiting the Wheeling area for family or to enjoy destinations like Oglebay or Grand Vue Park. Not only do the market houses offer eateries like Coleman’s Fish Market and Valley Cheese, but the structures are surrounded by boutiques, antiques, and restaurants.

That is one of several reasons why Herron will launch his removal efforts at the beginning of next week.

“I’m not really sure when the stickers were put into place,” he said. “But I bet someone handed someone else a stack of stickers in the Operations Department and told the person to go do it without any questions being asked. That employee then went and did it, and that should have never happened.

“Now the sticker does need to be on the meter, but that doesn’t mean over the design. They could have been placed on the pole of the meter,” the city manager added. “As far as removing them, I’m sure they can be removed because this is a nationwide trend, and I’m sure mistakes have been made somewhere that have forced the stickers to be removed. I plan to find out as soon as possible.”