
The City’s Executive Secretary: Keeping Elkins Moving
“Secretary” doesn’t say it all. Neither does “executive.”
The City of Elkins’ executive secretary officially supports the mayor and city clerk, but defining a typical day is impossible—because there’s no such thing.
She’s a font of information. As the seat of Randolph County, Elkins City Hall is often the first stop for residents seeking answers, usually through the website. If they can’t find what they are looking for, they call. To that end, during the day she fields calls about matters outside the City’s domain: death certificates (county), stray cats (county), post office hours (federal), highway closures (state), and even how to pay a bill for the town of Elkins—sometimes as in Arkansas, not West Virginia.
Of course, many calls are related to the City’s business. The phone rings constantly, with questions and comments about permits, zoning, code enforcement issues, event permits, which streets are closed for events (Fourth of July!), if a water main breaks, when a water main break is going to be resolved, boil water advisories . . . the list goes on.
She’s there, at her desk, when neighbors are calling to report neighbors, and she’ll take the call from those neighbors who are upset because their neighbors reported them. Unflinching, she’s available to make sure that residents who need help with their questions are linked to the correct personnel so that they get the answers they seek.
But her role extends far beyond calls. Week after week, she helps keep the City’s government running smoothly. During council, committee, and advisory board meetings—whether for the Personnel Committee, the “Elfkins” Committee, or the Addiction & Homelessness Task Force—she’s with the rest of the City officials, notepad and laptop in hand, meticulously recording details that often become public minutes in the City’s Agenda Center—or quite frankly, the she may share such details at afollowing meeting when a volunteer board member asks, “What were we talking about again last time?”
She’s often at the mayor’s side as he drafts proclamations, signs commemorations, or celebrates staff milestones. If he needs a community contact, she’s the one who finds it. When he attends a groundbreaking, she’s there too—often as his unofficial photographer. The photos on Facebook, the City’s website, or within an article about City news in the Inter-Mountain? There’s a good chance that she’s the one that took them.
She’s also a content manager and copy editor. When the communications manager drafts press releases or updates for the City’s website (as AI can make a mess of things instead of saving time), she reviews them with eagle eyes, suggesting refinements and adding more details. If there’s a question about how things work—or the City’s relationship with state agencies or Randolph County—she most likely has an answer. A lifelong Elkins resident and Fairmont State graduate, she’s already become a wellspring of institutional knowledge since joining the City in March, thereby assisting the city clerk and communications manager. And when the communications manager is tied up, she steps in, posting updates to keep residents informed.
Scribe, organizer, webmaster, social media specialist, and 21st-century switchboard operator: The City’s executive secretary works behind the scenes yet stands at the forefront, ensuring Elkins residents know what’s happening—and how to get the help they need.

Regional Task Force on Addiction, Homelessness, and Mental Health Update: July 24, 2025
Elkins, WV – July 28, 2025: The Regional Task Force on Homelessness, Addiction, and Mental Health continues its partnership with community organizations in North Central West Virginia to address these challenges. While the City of Elkins does not provide social services directly, […]
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City Hall News: Week of July 27, 2025
Elkins, WV—July 25, 2025: The City’s Sanitation Department wishes to remind you that for August 2025, the free monthly bulk item pickup (one large item, such as an appliance, TV, or mattress) schedule is as follows: Monday weekly trash pickup: Monday, August […]
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Reminder: The Importance of Wellness Checks
Elkins, WV—July 21, 2025: During the late afternoon of Thursday, July 17, the City of Elkins’ External Affairs office received a call from a concerned citizen living in Carson City, NV. The caller was concerned about an elderly cousin, with whom she […]
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An Update on Bulk Item Pickup in Elkins (and the Schedule for July & August 2025)
Elkins residents who use the City’s sanitation services have benefits beyond weekly garbage collection—including a free monthly bulk item pickup. While the Sanitation Department generally follows a consistent schedule, this hard-working crew occasionally has to adjust it with little notice. These changes […]
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Elkins Public Safety Quick Reference Guide
We get it: It’s confusing sometimes to know when to call 911, or when to call another number. 911 is appropriate to call after working hours for something sudden like a water main break or sewer backup. Nevertheless, many of us are […]
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