ELKINS — Elkins City Council will gather for a special meeting Thursday to vote on the approval of a contract regarding City Hall renovations.

The special City Council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, in the Phil Gainer Community Center at 142 Robert E. Lee Ave.

Two resolutions are on the agenda for the meeting. One would authorize contracting with VanNostrand Architects for preparation of a formal “scope-of-work” for the renovation of City Hall. The other resolution would implement a framework for compensation adjustments for the city’s General Fund administrative officers. The council will also discuss an update concerning “real estate negotiation.”

The special meeting comes as several public-facing City Hall departments are moving into their new locations, with City Hall remaining closed for the foreseeable future.

Renovation efforts are currently underway at Elkins City Hall after a sewage overflow incident on Aug. 31, which flooded the building’s basement and first floor, including the Elkins Police Department. 

Work is also being done on City Hall’s HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system and to help improve the building and bring it up to Class A Commercial standards. According to the Building Owners and Managers Association International, Class A is for “Most prestigious buildings competing for premier office users with rents above average for the area. Buildings have high quality standard finishes, state of the art systems, exceptional accessibility and a definite market presence.”

During the council’s special Sept. 11 meeting, officials said the building may not reopen until April or May of next year, if not later.

“Things are moving forward. It’s a work in progress,” Elkins City Operations Manager Michael Kesecker told the council in a building update during the council’s Sept. 19 meeting. “I think I told (Elkins Police Chief Travis Bennett) today, when this happened on Labor Day weekend, it was just a dark cloud. There was no light at the end of the tunnel. There is now light at the end of the tunnel. There definitely is.”

The Elkins Police Department has moved into its new location, a series of temporary office trailers by City Hall. Officials ask that if residents need to report non-emergency information, that they please contact the Elkins Police Department at 304-636-0678, or email elkinspolicetips@cityofelkinswv.com. For emergencies, please call 911.

The Treasurer and Utility Departments have resumed normal operations at their new location, located at 10 11th St., Suite 3, officials said. This is the new West Virginia Wood Technology Center office space, which also houses the Randolph County Development Authority. It is asked that customers visit between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and that any mail should still be addressed to 401 Davis Ave., Elkins, West Virginia, 26241.

The Elkins Municipal Court is still waiting to be moved into its new location. In the meantime, residents are asked to please email rharper@cityofelkinswv.com for appointments, information or questions.