ELKINS — Elkins City Council has approved several expenditures and policy changes as part of the city’s effort to renovate the Elkins Police Department facilities in City Hall.

Council first voted to waive the contracting Business and Occupation (B&O) tax for the EPD renovation project during the most recent city council meeting.

The resolution stated that council “finds that the interests of the city are best served by waiving” the contracting B&O tax for the project, and that it would be in “the best interests of the citizens of the City of Elkins.”

Also, council voted to accept the low bids on some of the contract services for the project.

Operations Manager Bob Pingley and the project’s architectural firm, VonNostrand Architects, recommending accepting bids from BCT Construction for general construction for $99,200; from David Davis Heating for plumbing work for $12,500; from Pass Fire Protection for sprinkler work for $11,400; from David Davis Heating for HVAC work for $13,400; and from David Davis Heating for electrical work for $12,100.

“I feel confidant that we have a good team to complete our project,” architect Bryson VonNostrand wrote in a letter to council regarding the bids.

Also during the meeting, Police Chief Glenn Galloway said Patrolman Dustin George will attend the West Virginia State Police Academy for training on April 15.

“He will be there for 16 weeks,” Galloway said, adding that the department’s Patrolman Boatwright and Corp. Bennett each completed the “FBI 40 hours of law enforcement instructional school and got certified in it. That is a requirement in order to teach other law enforcement officers in firearms” and other areas.

During the meeting, Council also voted to increase free parking to three hours for all downtown on-street, metered parking between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The move is part of the Elkins Streetscape Vision which was adopted by council in June 2017. The plan was prepared by the Design Committee of Elkins Main Street.

The next city council meeting will be Tuesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. At this meeting, council will lay the levy for the coming year, and also have their regular meeting. The originally scheduled meeting for Thursday, April 18 has been cancelled.