Street Vendor Ordinance now in place
Elkins City Council unanimously passed an ordinance during Thursday’s Elkins City Council meeting that will allow for street vendors within city limits.
According to City of Elkins Ordinance 264, street vendors – any person except itinerant vendors, who engages in or conducts, either as principal or agent, a business selling goods, wares, merchandise, food, confectionary or drink upon any street, sidewalk, or public park, including food trucks, will be permitted.
However, there are exceptions: vendors may only conduct business between six a.m. and 11 p.m.; no vendors may block pedestrian passageways; vendors must remove merchandise at the end of the sales day; no vendor set-up may consume more than three feet in width and eight feet in depth or more than two parking spaces; and no street vending is permitted on Davis Avenue between Second and Fifth Streets.
There are three classifications of vendors: Class A includes all non-food items, such as clothing, arts, crafts, flowers and miscellaneous items that are not food products; Class B covers all food products that do not require cooking, such as whole fruits, vegetables, and non-perishable food items that are pre-packaged by the manufacturer; and Class C is all food products that require cooking, heating, or a health permit. Vendors may also be required to meet additional requirements, depending upon their classification and location.
“It became apparent over the past few years that the food truck and street vendor industry had reached Elkins. I was receiving an increasing amount of inquiries about how and where vendors could operate, and in reviewing our City Code found it didn’t effectively address these questions,” Elkins City Clerk Jessica Sutton said. “The Rules and Ordinances Committee, with the help of the City Attorney, Administrative Officers and local vendors, developed an ordinance they feel will both protect and encourage this growing entrepreneurial enterprise.”
Applications, as well as all the rules and regulations, are available at Elkins City Hall, 401 Davis Ave., and on the City’s website.
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.
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.
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.
Municipal Election Filing Period Opens
The City of Elkins municipal elections are held every two years on the first Tuesday in March per the City Charter. As was announced with the Call of the Election at the council meeting on October 10th, the next election is March 5, 2019 and the filing period for those interested in running for a ward seat or the mayoral seat opened today. Candidates may file in person with the Elkins City Clerk during regular business hours from now until November 16, 2018. A filing fee of $25 for council or $50 for mayor is required at the time of filing. There are five council seats, one in each of the five wards, and the seat for mayor up for election this March. Candidates must be residents of the ward in which they file, or within any ward of the city to file for the mayor’s position. Candidacy may only be announced for one open position. The City Clerk’s office is open 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, the Clerk maintains a regular work schedule during this time so please be aware that you may have to wait or return if the Clerk is not immediately available. If you wish to make an appointment or have questions, please call Jessica Sutton, City Clerk, at 304.636.1414 ext. 1211.
More information on election guidelines and candidates will be available soon.
Friendly Summer Reminders
We hope you are enjoying our second wave of summer here in the City of Elkins. Below are just a few reminders on how you can help ensure that your neighbors are enjoying it as well.
- Please clean up after your pets. While City law only requires dogs (not cats) be leashed while out in public, it does mandate that with any pet you clean up any waste deposited on public or private property. Our City parks provide great outdoor play spaces for you and your pets and they provide free waste disposal bag stations and collection containers.
- Everyone loves the smell of freshly cut grass, but not everyone, especially those on a bicycle or motorcycle enjoys riding through a pile of it in the street. Not only does this create a dangerous situation for riders, when the rains come (as they always do in Elkins) this material is washed into the storm water system and can cause significant drainage problems. Please dispose of your grass and other yard waste at the City’s drop-off location.
- These warm temperatures also offer an opportunity for end of season cleaning, but remember that our sanitation department does not pick-up bulk or special items as part of your normal trash collection. If you have large or unusual items, check here to see if the City can accept it and if not, other ways it may be disposed of.
Police Civil Service Testing
The City of Elkins Policeman’s Civil Service Commission has announced testing dates for entry-level officers. For general information on how the civil service process works and how the City utilizes this process to fill vacant positions, click here. If you are interested in participating in the upcoming testing, you may download the application packet here, or contact Executive Secretary Lucinda Barrick at Elkins City Hall, 401 Davis Ave. or 304.636.1414 ext. 1110 during regular business hours and request an application. The testing will be conducted at the following times:
- September 8, 2018 @ 9:00 a.m. – Physical Fitness Test
- September 8, 2018 @ 12:00 p.m. – Written Examination
- September 25, 2018 @ 5:30 p.m. – Interviews scheduled for candidates who successfully completed the PT and written tests
Candidates must be between the ages of 21 and 45 as of September 8, 2018, and must have submitted a completed application to the Elkins City Clerk prior to 4:00 p.m. on September 7, 2018.
COE Strategic Plan
Since late 2017 City of Elkins’ elected and appointed officials have been working on a strategic plan for the City and it is nearly ready for adoption. With the help of a highly experienced and qualified facilitator, officials met in February 2018 to kick off the process. Over the following months, the plan was discussed a section at a time in open council meetings until a rough final draft was completed. Our facilitator then returned to help tighten up our draft and fill in any gaps in preparation for adoption. However, before council takes action, they will introduce the draft to the public in an effort to solicit any input citizens may have.
What is a strategic plan? Well, its a document that establishes the direction of an organization by identifying focus areas and setting milestones and deadlines to aim for.
Why would the City be interested in having a strategic plan? It is a great management tool that helps the organization to create long term goals, prioritize projects and focus resources.
What will the City do with the plan once its adopted? Council committees and Administrative Officers will use the plan as a guide in making decisions and recommendations about how to best use City revenues, in directing employee work flow and in measuring performance.
We encourage you to read through the proposed City of Elkins 2018-2023 Strategic Plan and let us know what you think. Comments may be submitted by the following means:
- written comments can be mailed or hand delivered to Elkins City Hall, 401 Davis Ave, Elkins WV 26241, or by email to the City Clerk at jsutton@cityofelkinswv.com
- verbal comments may be made during the public comment period of the upcoming Elkins Common Council meetings on August 2nd, August 16th and September 6th.
- The City will host an open house 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 22 at the Randolph County Community Arts Center located at 2 Park St., Elkins.
Alerts
MLK Day (1/16) Schedule
Elkins City Hall will be closed on Monday, January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Garbage service will run on regular schedule.
Christmas Tree Disposal
The City of Elkins Street Department will collect Christmas trees for disposal January 3-20. Please place trees at the curb after removing all ornaments, tinsel, lights, etc.
Starting Jan. 1: No more phone payments
Starting Jan. 1, City of Elkins will no longer accept phone payments for any city bills or services. Learn more.
No Spring Cleanup
Because of the city’s monthly bulk-item pickup program, we will no longer be offering Spring Cleanup. Don’t wait until spring, put your items out each month. Find the schedule for pickups here.
Bulk Pickups Schedule Change
As of the week of October 17, the bulk-item pickup schedule is changing. Find the new schedule here.
Water Issues?
Last modified on May 8th, 2022 at 10:51 am
Got a non-emergency water issue? Report it online by clicking here.
