City Hall News: Week of July 26, 2026

ELKINS, W.Va. — July 25, 2026 — Our hearts are with our neighbors in Upshur and Lewis counties who have lost so much in this week’s devastating flooding. We are grateful to the first responders and city employees who have worked alongside regional teams to support rescue and relief efforts. As recovery continues, the City of Elkins remains committed to standing with our North Central West Virginia family.

Sign Up for Emergency Alerts

The recent extreme weather reminds us that we can never be too prepared. The City of Elkins asks residents and business owners to sign up for emergency text alerts. Anybody with a cellphone can receive important alerts including weather warnings, street closures, and water outages. Subscribers to these text alerts also receive reminders about changes to Elkins’ municipal services due to holidays.

Please sign up here: https://cityofelkinswv.gov/alerts.

Free Address Decals

The City of Elkins offers residents and business owners free reflective address numbers. Please don’t allow darkness or extreme weather to make your home or business difficult to find when first responders arrive on the scene in an emergency.

Getting free decals for your home or business is easy:

• Visit the Finance Dept. at the WV Wood Tech Center (at 10 11th St., Suite 3).
• Provide your Elkins address.
• Receive your free reflective numbers.

A clearly visible address saves critical time and lives: Pick up yours today!

The Finance Department’s hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Reminder about Dropping Off Glass and Yard Waste

The City of Elkins reminds residents about the rules at our yard waste and glass drop-off site. Elkins has been close to losing its contract with its waste management vendors because residents are leaving other waste at the Sanitation Garage. Currently, the drop-off site only accepts two types of materials: glass and yard waste.

Boxes, household trash, plastic ties, twine, and other waste items are strictly prohibited by the companies with which Elkins has contracts. Again, please only bring glass and yard waste.

More information is available here: https://cityofelkinswv.gov/community/recycling/.

Request When Mowing Your Lawns

While they appear harmless, grass clippings left on pavement can reduce tire traction, particularly during morning dew or after rainfall. For motorcycles and bicycles, even a thin layer of clippings can increase stopping distance, create a dangerously slick surface, and cause a wheel to slide. We ask all residents to treat clippings like any other street debris: something to be removed, not ignored.

Elkins’ wastewater system faces risks as well. When grass clippings wash into storm drains, they add excess organic material that must be filtered or treated—adding strain to this system. While the City of Elkins conducts regular street sweeping, this cannot remove 100% of material from every curb line. Resident cooperation makes a meaningful difference in keeping our infrastructure safely running.

Sanitation Department Updates

Utility customers’ bulk pickup days are on a normal schedule for the months of July and August. For reminders on when utility customers’ bulk pickups are scheduled this month, please visit this page: https://cityofelkinswv.gov/bulk-pickup/.

City Hall Business

On Tuesday, August 18, the Water Department and Water Board will hold a special meeting to discuss Elkins’ source water and potential for new raw water sources in the future. The public is welcome to attend; the meeting will be at the Phil Gainer Community Center, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Elkins City Council is scheduled to hold its next meeting on Thursday, August 6, at 7:00 p.m. at the Phil Gainer Community Center.

No boards or committees are scheduled to meet this coming week.

Stay informed of all upcoming meetings and their agendas by visiting https://cityofelkinswv.gov/agenda-center/. Residents and business owners may also set up email alerts to remind them about upcoming meetings.

City Hall Renovations

The City Hall building at 401 Davis Avenue has been closed for renovations since September 2024. Contractors are now working on a $4.1 million project to repair and prevent future damage from flooding; install modern HVAC systems; improve safety, accessibility, and security; and update and modernize employee workspaces.

For updates on City Hall construction and renovations: https://cityofelkinswv.gov/renovations/.

For all departments’ contact information: https://cityofelkinswv.gov/directory/.

Finance Department Updates

2nd quarter B&O tax returns are due by July 31. Utility shutoffs for nonpayment of past due bills are scheduled for August 4.

To pay bills online: https://cityofelkinswv.gov/online-payments/.

To pay bills in person: 10 Eleventh St., Suite 3, Elkins, West Virginia, 26241.