Alerts
Holiday and garbage schedule
Elkins City Hall will close on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 in observance of West Virginia Day. Garbage service will run on regular schedule.
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Newsletter
Combined Sewer Smoke Testing to begin on May 22nd
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 adjacent to South Davis Avenue in an area approximately bounded by the river, Industrial Park Drive, and Conway Drive, as well as the Teaberry Hills area and areas around Sycamore Street adjacent to Davis & Elkins College. The smoke testing will be performed during the week of May 22, 2017 to May 26, 2017. 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.
If you should have any further questions, additional information on smoke testing can be obtained in the lobby of the City Hall.
Click here to download the smoke testing FAQ sheet.
Curbside yard waste pick-up no longer offered
As a result of discussion with the Region III office of the US Environmental Protection Agency, the City of Elkins has been advised by the EPA that our obligation for the 5 year yard waste project under the Consent Decree signed by the City in 2011 has been satisfied.
While we recognize that the curbside yard waste pick-up has proven to be a popular service offered by the City, the burden on the City’s resources can no longer be sustained. Therefore the City will no longer be able to offer curbside pick-up of yard waste.
However, we realize that offering City residents a means for disposal of yard waste material has significant benefits, so we intend to keep our receiving area open in its current location at 31 Jones Drive.
Kudos to the Elkins Police Department
On March 1, 2017, Officers of the Elkins Police Department Tactical Response Unit supported by the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and the WV State Police Special Response Team executed two search warrants at 461 Wilson Street and 98 Washington Avenue, Elkins WV. The search warrants executed were the result of recently developed information associated with an ongoing Elkins Police Department investigation into Elkins Drug Trafficking. During the execution and search of the referenced residences three individuals were detained. Officers seized approximately one-half pound of methamphetamine, two to three ounces of hard crack cocaine, two firearms and twenty five thousand dollars in U.S. currency. In addition to the above seized evidence voluminous intelligence information of value to ongoing Elkins Police Department investigations was obtained. The above seized evidence will be presented in the near future to a Federal Grand Jury. The Elkins Police Department extends a sincere appreciation for the significant cooperation received from the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and the WV State Police Troops 1 and 3 Special Response Team without whose help the successful results of this law enforcement effort could not have been achieved.
Third Ward council vacancy filled
At the February 16, 2017 meeting of the Elkins Common Council, Christopher C. Lowther was unanimously approved as the appointee to the Third Ward council seat vacated by Mark Scott at the end of 2016. Mr. Lowther was sworn in by City Clerk Jessica Sutton and graciously assumed his duties right away. Contact information for Third Ward residents’ newest representative can be found here. Please welcome Mr. Lowther to the City of Elkins Common Council. We look forward to working with him.
Random Acts of Kindness Week
Let’s turn the world kind February 12-18.
Random Acts of Kindness Week, #RAKWeek2017, is an opportunity to focus on what unites us, rather than what divides us. It’s a chance to be loud with our generosity and inspire others to do the same. Join the seven-day celebration by doing an act of kindness and posting on social media using #RAKWeek2017. Need some ideas as to how? Look here!
Kindness Counts
The City of Elkins has proclaimed the week of February 12 through 18, 2017 as Kindness Counts Week. Sometimes it appears that we are in a kindness deficit, but underneath there is a vast stream of it if you just scratch the surface. Please join the City of Elkins in “scratching the surface” to encourage a groundswell of goodwill in 2017. Kindness is contagious and good for us. Please join us at City Hall at noon on Tuesday, Febraury 14th to help kick-off our week of making this community a kinder place to live, work and play. – Mayor Van Broughton
Phil Gainer Community Center
In honor of late Parks Director, Phil Gainer, and his more than forty years of service to our youth and community, the City of Elkins Common Council voted unanimously to change the name of the Elkins Recreation and Event Center to the Phil Gainer Community Center. The idea for the name change was put forth by the Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission after consultation with the Gainer family. Those who met and knew Phil recognized his commitment to creating safe and enjoyable recreation opportunities to the citizens of Elkins, and even those who didn’t, reaped the rewards of his hard work. A lifelong dream of Phil’s was the creation of a community center that could serve as an anchor for Elkins and which came to fruition under his leadership. In the short time since the Center opened, it has housed a variety of events focused on fun and family. Check out the Facebook page for up to date information on activities and events and keep Phil’s dream alive.
City accepting resumes for Third Ward council member
At the meeting of common council on January 5, 2017, Resolution 980 was approved and announced the vacancy of the Third Ward council seat recently held by Mark Scott. Mr. Scott, who was elected to the Randolph County Commission, resigned his city council position as of December 31, 2016, leaving the seat open for appointment by the remaining council members per the City’s Council Vacancy Protocol. Any eligible voter who resides in Third Ward and who would like to be considered for this appointment should submit a resume to the Elkins City Clerk at 401 Davis Ave. or electronically to jsutton@cityofelkinswv.com no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 13, 2017. The selected individual will serve the remainder of the unexpired term, ending March 31, 2019. If you have any questions about the duties or time committment expected of a council person, please contact City Clerk Jessica Sutton at 304-636-1414 ext. 1211 or jsutton@cityofelkinswv.com.
Public Safety FAQ’s
In an effort to help address citizen concerns more effectively and efficiently, the Public Safety Committee has issued a list of Frequently Asked Questions. If you have a public safety concern, but are unsure of where to direct it, check our FAQ’s first. In addition, the City is working on an email subscriber list for those individuals who would like to receive public safety notices. These email notices will cover a variety of topics including police, fire and operations. If you would like to be added to this list, please send an email from the account you wish to be added with the subject “public safety email list” to jsutton@cityofelkinswv.com. If you have any questions, please contact City Clerk Jessica Sutton at this same email or at 304-636-1414 ext. 1211.
Arrangements announced for Director Gainer
The family of Phil Gainer invites all those wishing to celebrate his life and express condolences over his passing to the Elkins Recreation and Events Center this Sunday, November 27, 2016 between noon and 2:00 p.m. The Events Center, which was a project near to Phil’s heart, is located at 42 Robert E. Lee Ave extension. The reception will be followed by a service of remembrance at 2:00 p.m. at the same location. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission, 401 Davis Ave., Elkins, WV 26241 to continue the work to which Phil devoted his life. The Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for Phil Gainer. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.tomblynfuneralhome.com.