City Hall News: Week of April 19, 2021

Elkins, W. Va., April 17, 2021: Council “lays the levy” and appoints two new firefighters at a special meeting on Tuesday. Also meeting this week are council’s Rules & Ordinances Committee and Municipal Properties Committee and the Elkins Sanitary Board. Street sweeping starts Monday and there is an Earth Day celebration at City Park on Thursday.

The Elkins street-sweeping season begins Monday. Starting May 3, city police will ticket vehicles parked on streets scheduled for street sweeping. Schedule and other info: www.bit.ly/ElkinsStreetSweeper.

On Monday at 9 a.m., council’s Rules & Ordinances Committee considers requests to amend both the rules of the Firefighters Civil Service Commission and the establishing ordinance for the Elkins Tree Board. The committee will also take up the recommendation of the Committee on Boards and Commissions to eliminate the Enforcement Agency, which has not met in years because its duties have been absorbed by council’s Public Safety Committee.

Later Monday, at 3:15 p.m., the Elkins Sanitary Board—which manages the city’s sewer system—reviews March financial statements and invoices, including from the sewer/stormwater separation project.

Council meets at the Phil Gainer Community Center at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, the day when all West Virginia cities and counties must “lay the levy,” or finalize adoption of their budgets for fiscal year 2022. Also on the agenda are recognition of Elkins Fire Department Chief Tom Meader, the swearing in of two new firefighters, the promotion of two senior firefighters, and the presentation of a draft framework for planning the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Council’s Municipal Properties Committee meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. for agenda items including the Elkins Main Street Streetscape plan, a request to change traffic patterns on Gorman Avenue, downtown parking, tree grates, repairs to Darden House, and prospects for installing a generator for city hall.

The Elkins Tree Board and Elkins Friends of Trees are participating in an Earth Day Celebration being held in City Park on Thursday, 4:30-6:30 p.m. The event will feature tree giveaways, crafting for children, and other exhibits and activities.

Utility bills and in-city fire-protection service fees are due Monday. First quarter B&O tax returns are due April 30.

All of this week’s meetings are in person at city hall, in the council chamber, except for the council meeting, which will be held in person at the Phil Gainer Community Center.

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