City Hall News: December 20, 2020

Elkins, W. Va., December 20, 2020: Elkins City Hall will close for the Christmas holiday on Thursday, December 24 at noon and reopen for normal business hours on Monday, December 28. Garbage normally picked up on Fridays will be picked up this Thursday instead, starting at 6 a.m.

There are no meetings scheduled for next week, and city officials are already looking ahead to the new year.

In January, the city’s five administrative officers will begin working with staff to plan departmental budgets for fiscal year 2022, which begins July 1, 2021. Departmental budget requests will be reviewed by the Finance Committee before being presented to council, which must submit its initial proposed budget—the “Levy Estimate”—to the state auditor in March. After approval by the state auditor, the city will finalize its budget and “lay the levy” on April 20, 2021.

Preparations continue for the March 2 city election. Just as for the statewide election in November, health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic are an acceptable reason for requesting an absentee ballot. The city clerk is already accepting absentee ballot applications. Mailing of absentee ballots to voters who have requested them will begin January 15, 2021.

The new year will also see forward movement on several important projects, including improvements to the city hall parking lot, the separation of sewer and stormwater lines in a section of the city between the industrial park and Wimer Field, and the replacement of remote-read water meters paid for with surplus funds from the water-plant construction project.

To avoid penalties, remember to remit utility bill and in-city fire fee payments by December 21.

From all of us at City of Elkins, we wish you a merry Christmas and hope your holiday is a source of comfort and joy at the end of this challenging year.

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