ELKINS — Elkins City Council passed the final reading of an ordinance to authorize the city to seek $4.9 million in bonds for a storm water separation project.

The impetus of the project is to help the city meet requirements in a consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

City council hosted a virtual public hearing on the ordinance seeking the bonds last week. One resident submitted public comment about the project. Elkins City Clerk Jessica Sutton read the comment submitted by First Ward Resident Mike Elza.

“I would like to remind council that I hope they have done their due diligence on ordinance 273 because of the issuance of City of Elkins revenue bonds series 2020 A is a complex and technical process,” Elza said in his comments.

“I have read about many misrepresented professionals in accounting, law and engineering. I hope you have confidence in your administrative officers and responsibilities as this is a huge undertaking.”

Elza said he was not objecting to the ordinance, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is making it hard for the public to attend meetings and express their concerns.

“I think we could hold off on pushing this Ordinance 273 without me being able to attend in public to voice my opinion,” he said. “Many of you all complained last meeting on Zoom and here are again providing a regular council meeting with the virtual public hearing, which I cannot attend in public to present my opinions.”

Council passed the ordinance on a motion from council member Judy Guye, First Ward, with no discussion from council members.

According to the ordinance, the city is seeking $4,964,800 for the project. The project aims to separate the sanitary sewer from the storm sewer to meet a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency consent decree in relation to Elkins’ inability to adhere to Clean Water Act regulations.

Separating the two systems will enhance the sewer facility’s capacity. During heavy rains in the past, the sewer has overflowed and spilled over into the Tygart River.

The project includes storm drain installation and combined sewer separation along four separate locations throughout Elkins, including Barron Avenue, Kerens Avenue, College Street and Wilson Street.

Work includes rehabilitation of approximately 3,810 feet of sanitary sewers and 13 manholes and the installation of approximately 3,750 feet of various size of storm drains, 1,250 feet of various size water lines, 22 manholes and 24 storm inlets. A total of 15 streets in the south Elkins area will be affected by the project.

The bid opening is set for today and the bid will be awarded on Sept. 17, with construction beginning near the end of November, and a completion date is set for August 2021.