Alerts
Road Work
Crews are working at intersection of Third Street and the Davis Trust alley today, September 17, 2019. Drivers are advised to choose an alternate route. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.
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Newsletter
Fire Fee Notice
First due fire fee billings mailed out last Friday, August 16, 2019 reflected a due date error of June 3, 2019. The correct due date is September 3, 2019. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Elkins City hall at 304-636-1414.
Adopt-A-Tree
CITY OF ELKINS TREE BOARD ANNOUNCES ADOPT-A-TREE PROGRAM
Date: August 22, 2019
Contact: Marilynn Cuonzo, Chair, Elkins Tree Board mcuonzo@cityofelkinswv.com
ELKINS-A new program that promotes planting trees throughout the city is being initiated by the Elkins Tree Board this fall. An Adopt-A-Tree program will provide a free tree to two selected homeowners in each of the city’s five wards. Application deadline for residents is Friday, September 13.
Members of the Elkins Tree Board are excited about the program and are inviting residents in the five wards interested in adopting a tree to fill out the application.. The selected tree owner commits to taking care of the tree for a minimum of three years, but board members will provide assistance and advice throughout the three-year period.
The trees must be planted in the front of the home and the type of tree will vary according to the site location. Preferred locations would be in a designated tree lawn, the grassy area located between the street and the sidewalk. The homeowner will be responsible for planting the tree within two weeks of receiving it.
The goal of the program is to continue to cool the streetscape, provide shade for those walking on city sidewalks and encourage everyone to plant more trees in town. The benefits of planting trees are numerous. Not only do trees improve the aesthetics of a neighborhood, but they also assist with the lowering water run-off, reducing air-conditioning costs and noise pollution. Most importantly, trees remove significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the air, which reduces the impact on climate change.
If the initial year is successful, the tree board will continue the Adopt-A-Tree program every year to reestablish trees lost due to age, storms and removal.
Applications are available online on the Elkins Friends of Trees Facebook page and the City of Elkins website, and at City Hall, 401 Davis Ave., Elkins. Deadline for submission is September 13, 2019, and the trees will be distributed no later than October 14. For further information, contact Marilynn Cuonzo, Chair, Elkins Tree Board, 304.636.5900 or mcuonzo@cityofelkinswv.com.
The Elkins Tree Board meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Darden House adjacent to City Hall. The public is welcome to attend. The board offers various workshops and volunteer opportunities throughout the year and, those interested are encouraged to visit the Elkins Friends of Trees Facebook page.
Traffic pattern to change
The traffic pattern at the intersection of Gorman Avenue and Martin Street will transition to a four-way stop. Motorists are asked to use caution when approaching this intersection. It is projected that the intersection will become a two-way stop on Gorman Avenue as the completion of the bike route approaches.
Website Calendar
We are experiencing some interface issues with our website calendar. Please be patient while we work to address the problem with the help of our website developer. During this time, if you would like to confirm the date and time of any meeting, please call the Mayor’s Executive Secretary, Lea Crawford, at 304.636.1414 ext. 1110. We apologize for any inconvenience.
What to do under a boil water advisory
What should I do?
- DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
Final leaf pick-up
Announcement:
The City will complete a final leaf pick-up starting on Monday, December 17th. The crews will cover each ward in an efficient manner. All leaves must be placed at the curb by this date in order to be picked up. Please note that this will be the last leaf pick-up of the season.
City Hall Closed
City Hall will be closed tomorrow, December 5, 2018, in accordance with the Presidential Proclamation issued by President Trump and the Executive Order issued from Governor Justice in observance of the day of mourning in honor of President George H.W. Bush.
COMBINED SEWER SMOKE TESTING NOTIFICATION
ATTENTION
COMBINED SEWER SMOKE TESTING NOTIFICATION
The City of Elkins is conducting a sanitary sewer smoke testing evaluation designed to detect ground water and storm water that is entering the sanitary sewer system through defects in the pipe or illicit connections such as catch basins or downspouts. We will be testing sewer lines in the Teaberry Hills areas. The smoke testing will be performed during the week of November 26th, 2018. In the event of inclement weather, the smoke testing will continue into the following week.
Smoke will be blown into the sewer system at manholes, and may be seen coming from roof vents, building foundations, or manhole covers. The smoke is a non-toxic substance which is clean and harmless to humans, pets, food, and material goods and creates no fire hazard. The smoke should not enter your home unless you have defective plumbing or dried up drain traps. Ensure that all plumbing traps, including basement floor drains, are not dry and contain water. If you have any seldom used drains, pour water into the drain to fill the trap. If smoke enters the home through faulty plumbing, this indicates the possibility that dangerous sewer gases are also entering your home and you should consider contacting a licensed plumber to identify and make repairs. You can report any presence of smoke within the house to the crews working in the street conducting the tests.
Please avoid unnecessary exposure to the smoke. Although the smoke is relatively harmless, smoke of any kind can be irritating to the nasal passages for some people. If you experience smoke irritation, it should be temporary and quickly disappear after exposure has ceased.
If you or any member of your family have respiratory problems, are immobile, or have any other health condition that you feel we need to be aware of, please contact the City of Elkins Operations Division, at 304-635-7021.
Leaf pick-up update
Announcement:
Once again fall leaf pick-up has presented us with challenges. The wet weather, late leaf fall, reduced work force and availability of only one leaf truck has slowed our progress. We continue to work as quickly as we can, however, if you are concerned about letting leaves sit on your grass for too long, please feel free to bag them up. The bagged leaves may be taken to the yard waste roll off container at 31 Jones Drive on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p., or Saturday 9:00 a.m. – noon. The facility is closed on Sundays and holidays.
As long as time allows, our crews may be able to collect the bagged leaves. Like regular leaf collection this work is weather and manpower dependent and so no pre-determined schedule can be provided. If the crews can tell the bags contain leaves, they will tear them open and collect the contents.
We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience.
Traffic Safety
Traffic safety is important to every West Virginian. Regardless of whether you are a driver, a passenger, a cyclist, or a pedestrian, laws exists to protect your life and your rights. Most of us area aware of the high profile traffic related safety initiatives in the state such as “Click-It or Ticket” targeting seat belt use and “Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over” focused on preventing impaired driving. While these are important and effective programs, there are even less obvious efforts and habits that can be undertaken daily to ensure everyone’s safety and enjoyment.
Pedestrian crosswalks are designed and utilized for two purposes. Both to direct pedestrians to cross the roadway in a particular spot and to notify drivers to be cautious and that they may need to stop. The Elkins City Code (Sec. 19-112) mirrors West Virginia State Code §17C-10-2 in assigning right-of-way depending on the circumstance. In situations where both a traffic signal and a crosswalk indicator are in place and in operation, both parties will be directed how to proceed by the signals. In the absence of any signals or if a signal fails, the code requires that “the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk.” However, this does not permit pedestrians to walk or run into the path of a moving vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to safely yield. In addition, when a vehicle is stopped at a marked or unmarked pedestrian crosswalk, the driver of any other vehicle is not permitted to overtake or pass the stopped vehicle.
While pedestrians are required to use the crosswalk in the presence of adjacent intersections at which traffic signals are in operation, they are also strongly encouraged to use them when available nearby. This helps both pedestrians and drivers know what to expect and allows for a smoother interaction between the two. However, it is sometimes necessary to get across a road in the absence of a crosswalk, in which case the burden to yield falls to the pedestrian, not the driver.
Did you know that any person operating a bicycle on a roadway is granted all of the rights, as well as being subject to all the rules, applicable to the driver of a vehicle? If not, you may not be alone in that. It is a common misconception that cyclists should ride on the sidewalk, when in fact this is illegal and dangerous to both the riders and to pedestrians. Cyclists ride with traffic; use hand signals in the absence of electronic ones to turn; yield to pedestrians at crosswalks; and the like. When an adjacent bike lane is available, riders should utilize it, otherwise they should ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when passing, turning left or avoiding some condition or conflict. (See W.Va. Code §17C-11)
This information is meant to enlighten drivers and pedestrians alike of what the rules are. Pedestrians and drivers alike may be fined for a violation of these codes up to $100 plus court costs for a first offense, and even higher for subsequent offenses. But ultimately this notice is meant to remind everyone that slowing down and paying attention to your surroundings is in everyone’s best interest. In order for Elkins to be the livable, accessible city that makes us attractive to residents, tourists, and investors alike, understanding and implementing the use of multiple forms of transportation simultaneously is vital. Beyond that, it’s an excellent example of common courtesy.