WHEELING -
Five years ago, the West Virginia Legislature enacted a pilot program in Wheeling that allowed the city to create ordinances apart from the state's code. It's called 'Home Rule' and that pilot program is about to come to and end.
City Manager Robert Herron gave us an example of how they have been able to take advantage of the program over the last few years. The business license portion of the state code requires up to 77 different business licenses, so the city enacted Home Rule to narrow that down to three licenses.
Wheeling was one of four West Virginia cities, including Charleston, Huntington and Bridgeport, to apply for this pilot program and they don't want to lose it.
"That legislation sunsets at the end of this year," Herron said. "So we're campaigning to have the legislature renew the pilot Home Rule program and maybe even expand it."
The issue will be taken up in the next legislative session which will begin in February. Herron said they should have an answer by the end of that 60 day session.
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