As one of the six ward representatives in the city of Wheeling, Dave Palmer just tries to find paths toward progress for a city that’s consistently lost businesses and population since the 1940s. Once above 60,000 citizens who worked in lumber yards, steel mills, and manufacturing plants, Wheeling was the center of commerce and the center of attention, too.
And it still is, sort of. The ebbs and flows of Wheeling, W.Va., provide the residents of the Upper Ohio Valley with a region-wide measuring stick used to weigh economic growth and employment gains. The Ohio Valley Mall and the Ohio Valley Plaza near St. Clairsville swiped away the Friendly City’s retail industry 30 or so years ago, and The Highlands development has proved to be a harsh rival ever since.
Palmer’s first four years as a councilman were frustrating because of the slow pace of municipal government and also because of an inhibiting learning curve, indecision, mistakes, and the pandemic. He was re-elected in Ward 6, as were Mayor Glenn Elliott, Ward 1 Councilman Chad Thalman, and Ward 5 rep Ty Thorngate, and now he feels the new members, Ben Seidler (Ward 2), Rosemary Ketchum (Ward 3) and Jerry Shlavounakis (Ward 4), are ready to help move more forward.
“I know it’s taken some time for some things to happen, but there was that learning process for us that we had to go through to completely understand how to go about what we wanted to accomplish,” Palmer explained. “I’m just thankful that we have found people who do want to invest in the downtown or in another area of the city. That just tells me that people believe in this city.
“My hope is that it becomes contagious and that other people do the same thing,” he said. “There are people who are stepping up all of the time because they want to help this community, and for that I am very thankful. I’m really excited for the next few years.”
Onward We Go
In Palmer’s mind, though, it’s been transformation time in his town for two decades, and sure, he’s appreciative of the groundwork laid by the past two mayors, Nick Sparachane and Andy McKenzie, because he is well aware of the painstaking processes they endured to accomplish what they did.
That’s why Palmer now owns a better perspective.
“That’s why the emails and the phone calls from residents who just want to say thank you are some of the best things about being a member of city council,” the council member said. “Or when you talk with a constituent who may be bewildered about a topic and then you explain it to them, and you clear the air. I enjoy those conversations. That’s a positive.
“There are so many things on social media that are misleading,” Palmer insisted. “So I am thankful that I get to talk with people and set the record straight so someone who lives in this city has a better understanding of the actual facts. I think that’s what we need to focus on because the facts and the positive things are what’s real. There’s always going to be negativity, but we’re going to see a lot of positive change in the downtown, and we just had an announcement about a new 40-unit apartment building near the Bridge Tavern. And there’s more coming.”
‘Tis the Season of Thank You
Palmer briefly was a member of law enforcement in Ohio County before he found his place with the Wheeling Fire Department for more than 30 years. After a couple of gigs following his retirement, he now enjoys being a bus driver for Ohio County Schools, and he’s thankful to be alive at 59 years old.
“I am thankful for my children and grandchildren, and I am especially thankful for my wife,” Palmer said. “I am thankful for all of my friends, and I feel lucky to have so many good friends.
“I’m thankful to be able to serve the citizens of the city of Wheeling in the capacity of a city councilman,” he continued. “And I’m thankful that our city manager (Bob Herron) does wonderful job with our budget, and that as a Finance Committee we are being fiscally responsible because we do not know where we are going to be with pandemic down the road. We are operating the city, but we are still saving because of the great unknown.”
He’s far from finished.
“I’m thankful that we have been able to pave streets, and I’m thankful that we have been able to get these sewer projects started,” the Ward 2 representative said. “I’m thankful that we have a lot of interest in the OVMC campus. It may take months down the road, but there is due diligence taking place.
“I’m thankful that during a pandemic I think we’re doing pretty doggone good,” Palmer said. “I am also very thankful for the people I get to work with at the Ohio County Schools Transportation Department. What a great group of people. Those who haven’t been driving the buses worked on making our environment at the center better. That includes the drivers, the mechanics, and everyone else. I’m extremely grateful for all of those folks.”
And, yes, one more.
“I just want to wish everyone in Wheeling and in the Valley a Happy Thanksgiving,” he added. “We live in a great area where people fight for each other, and that’s something to be thankful for because that’s not case everywhere.”
