September 2013

September 10, 2013

MINUTES OF THE BROOKNEAL TOWN COUNCIL


7:00 PM – The regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council

The municipal government of the Town of Brookneal met with the following members present:

Phyllis Campbell, Mayor
James Nowlin, Vice Mayor
Richard Adams, Robert Jean, Barbara Laprade, Mark Wilkes, and J. B. David, Jr., Council Members
Russell Thurston, Town Manager
Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Richard Baldwin, Chief of Police


INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG


APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the September 10, 2013, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.


MINUTES

Upon motion by Barbara Laprade, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, Council approved the August 13, 2013, Town Council meeting minutes. 


TREASURER’S REPORT

Mayor Campbell asked that the September 2013 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.


PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES

Be it resolved that motion was made by James Nowlin, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of August 14, 2013 to September 10, 2013, in the amount of $37,149.56.


    

 
POLICE REPORT

Chief Ricky Baldwin presented the police report to the Council for August 2013.  He said of the 90 calls for service in August, 79 calls were answered by the Brookneal Police Department.  He said school traffic this school year has been a challenge, but has improved since the beginning of the school year. 


PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

Public Works Director Mike Crews said that Barry Matthews from the Office of Drinking Water would be here on September 24 for a meeting concerning the THMs & HAA5s. 

Mr. Crews said that at the last meeting he talked about the extra reporting and monitoring requirements for ecoli based on DEQ regulations.  He said he and Mr. Thurston visited Altavista’s wastewater facility, and they perform their own ecoli testing.  He said they have an operations manual to follow, and they do have annual inspections.  He said he and Mr. Thurston visited another lab called Willowby Associates that is offering cheaper rates on testing for the water treatment facility and the wastewater treatment facility.  He said Mr. Thurston had contacted the Richmond DEQ office, and they are looking at reduced monitoring by December 2013.  He said that if they reduce monitoring then there would have to be an addendum done to the wastewater permits.  He said that all testing done at the wastewater facility has been in compliance. 


FALL CLEANUP

Mr. Crews set the dates for fall clean up as October 7- October 18, 2013.  


TOWN MANAGER REPORT

Town Manager Russell Thurston said that the Town is going to be hosting another Partner Appreciation Luncheon on October 3, 2013.  He said that each department has a list of people that they want to invite.  He said all council members and employees are invited.  

Mr. Thurston also advised the Council of an employee meeting on September 25, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. to celebrate birthdays and discuss some current events with the employees. 

Clerk/Treasurer Bobbie Waller said that a joint dinner meeting with the Town of Altavista and Campbell County will be held on October 10, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. at the Altavista Train Station.

Mr. Thurston said that a school board meeting will be held on October 14, 2013 at which the resolution that is in the Council packet tonight will be presented to the board.

Mr. Thurston said that he did talk to Mr. Cunningham at DEQ in Richmond concerning reducing the ecoli testing.  He said that hopefully they will re-write the sampling procedures to reduce the testing in half.  He said that if the procedures are changed by December, then he and Mr. Crews  probably won’t pursue buying the equipment to do the testing.  He said the correspondence to the owner of 120 Church Street has gone out and has been signed for by the owners, but they have not complied with any of the requests.  He said that the Town does not have the authority to touch the structure on the property, but the Town could remove the trash and the vegetation.  He said he talked with the Blue Ridge Regional Jail and Sheriff Hutcherson about using inmates to clean up this property.  He asked the Council if it was something they wanted to pursue.  Consensus was that Mr. Thurston and Mr. Crews could pursue the possibilities of using inmates to clean up properties in the Town if it is feasible. 

Mr. Thurston said that the auditors had been here the previous week to work on the FY12/13 audit, and had worked with the clerk/treasurer.  He also said that Hurt & Proffitt will be here at the next Council meeting to present final drawings for the Phase 3 downtown improvement project.  He said he hopes to get it out for bid for construction in November, middle of December at the latest.  He said that the Town’s flood insurance went up 24.6% this year, and he was told that this was a piece of federal legislation that was a major revision to the flood insurance program. 


RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE MUTUAL BENEFIT BETWEEN LOCAL SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY

Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to adopt the following resolution:

A verbal vote was taken as follows:

Ms. Laprade    Aye            Mr. Jean    Aye
Mr. Adams    Aye            Mr. Nowlin    Aye
Mr. David    Aye            Mr. Wilkes    Aye

Mayor Campbell   Aye


RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE MUTUAL BENEFIT
                     BETWEEN LOCAL SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY

WHEREAS, the Brookneal community is home to Brookneal Elementary and the William Campbell Combined Schools, both our community and our schools are valuable assets having a positive impact within and beyond the boundaries of Campbell County; and

WHEREAS, research and reality demonstrate that close partnerships between schools and communities both working toward common goals is beneficial for all; and

WHEREAS, communities provide schools with a context and environment which enhances and reinforces the learning experiences provided by local schools; and

WHEREAS, communities and schools working together have the potential to extend a variety of opportunities to students and to their families – academically, socially, culturally, and vocationally; and

WHEREAS, local schools offer communities a focal point for educational services for the next generation of our citizens; and

WHEREAS, local schools frequently provide employment for community residents and it has been asserted that they improve the local economy and attract business; and

WHEREAS, local schools, more importantly, have the potential to build well-educated citizens ready to take on responsibilities as contributing community members; and

WHEREAS, local schools are a main component in assessing and promoting economic development and a high quality of life within a community, local schools in partnership with local communities are essential and fundamental cornerstones upon which strong, thriving and vibrant communities are built;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BROOKNEAL TOWN COUNCIL that the mutual benefit and high degree of value our local community and our local schools enjoy between one another is duly acknowledged, affirmed; and will be wisely protected.

Adopted the 10th day of September, 2013.


______________________________________           
Mrs. Phyllis Campbell, Mayor                   
Town of Brookneal                       

Attested:                           
_________________________________________       
Mrs. Bobbie Waller, Clerk                            


COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS   

Physical Development Chairperson James Nowlin said that his committee had met concerning an issue the town manager presented to them at the last meeting concerning Charles Beauchamp and his property on M.T. Holt Avenue.  He said they agreed with the recommendation of the town manager on this issue.  Mr. Thurston said he would notify Mr. Beauchamp of their decision.  


ADJOURNMENT

Upon motion from Robert Jean, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the September 10, 2013, meeting was adjourned. 


___________________________        ____________________________
Bobbie A. Waller                Phyllis L. Campbell
Clerk/Treasurer                Mayor