May 14, 2019
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:
James Nowlin, Mayor
Richard Adams, Vice Mayor
Barbara Laprade, Mark Wilkes, and Phyllis Campbell, Council Members
Richard Baldwin, Chief of Police
Russell Thurston, Town Manager
Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Absent: Joseph David and Cynthia Johnson, Council Members
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE WATER FUND BUDGET
Mayor Nowlin opened the public hearing for the water fund budget at 7:04 p.m. No one spoke in favor of or in opposition to the water fund budget; therefore, Mayor Nowlin closed the public hearing at 7:05 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE SEWER FUND BUDGET
Mayor Nowlin opened the public hearing for the sewer fund budget at 7:05 p.m. No one spoke in favor of or in opposition to the sewer fund budget; therefore, Mayor Nowlin closed the public hearing at 7:06 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR NOTICE OF THE TOWN’S INTENT TO APPLY FOR FUNDING FROM USDA FOR A SANITATION VEHICLE
Mayor Nowlin opened the public hearing for notice of intent of the town to apply for funding from USDA for a sanitation vehicle at 7:06 p.m. No one spoke in favor or in opposition to the intent to apply; therefore, Mayor Nowlin closed the public hearing at 7:07 p.m.
Mayor Nowlin opened the public hearing for the general fund budget at 7:02 p.m. No one spoke in favor of or in opposition to the general fund budget; therefore, Mayor Nowlin closed the public hearing at 7:03 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by Phyllis Campbell, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the May 14, 2019, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.
MINUTES
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Barbara Laprade, and unanimously carried, Council approved the minutes for the April 9, 2019 Town Council meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Mayor Nowlin asked that the May 2019 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
Be it resolved that motion was made by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Phyllis Campbell, and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of
April 10, 2019 to May 14, 2019 in the amount of $11,851.98.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appeared before Council during public comment.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Richard Baldwin presented the police report for April 2019. He said of the 87 calls for service, 83 were answered by the Brookneal Police Department and 4 were answered by the Campbell County Sheriff’s office. He said that state and federal mandates on record keeping for police departments for the state of Virginia has changed, and they have to go to a new system with a company called Zuercher. He said that Campbell County, Brookneal and Altavista are all going to this system, and they will all interface together so it will make easier to access information. He said they are supposed to go live June 12 with the software and the new CAD system.
Councilperson Laprade asked about what you can do about nuisances. Chief Baldwin said that he knew what she was talking about and they have dealt with this several times, and there is nothing else to do at this point as long as the gentleman in question is not bothering anyone.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews said that VDOT is prepping the streets in Town for a surface treatment. He said they are going to start milling from Georgia Pacific into town. He said that they are supposed to get all the streets done in Town this year. He said the town crews cut the grass at the airport last week with the zero turn mower. He said that they are having a problem with the hopper part of the current trash truck; he said it has dumped trash in the street several times.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Town Manager Russell Thurston thanked Chief Baldwin for working during the fishing tournament the end of April; he said things went well. He said that Patrick Henry Family Services is holding a community gathering Thursday, May 16 at the community building to receive input concerning changes that are happening in their organization. He said
He would start working on letters for people that have not cut their grass yet this year. He said that Cindy Bomar with USDA is processing the application for the trash truck. He said that the grant through USDA for the feasibility study for the motel/hotel project is moving forward, and he said he is very optimistic about it.
REQUEST FOR TRANSFERS OF APPROPRIATION
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, the Council approved the following transfers of appropriation:
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Physical Development Committee Chairperson Mark Wilkes said that he has received some more donations for the playground at the ball park. He said some new playground equipment has been ordered. Councilperson Laprade asked about the sidewalk discussion from last month that had been transferred to the physical development committee. Councilperson Wilkes said that they had not met to discuss that yet. Mr. Thurston said that he thought that the Council should talk more about that. He said when you talk about sidewalks you are talking about an epic, epic project. He said that an engineer would be needed to determine what roads, see what the rights of ways are, and how much of people’s property would have to be purchased to put a walkway in. He said it would be a major civil engineering project. He said utility poles might have to be moved to put a sidewalk in. He said some money really needs to be set aside to have an engineering firm like Hurt & Proffitt come in and look at this project. He said an engineering study and design needs to be done first; he said that he will work on getting a quote on what a study would cost.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Councilperson Laprade said that she is working on contacting the owners of the storefronts on Main Street to see if they will allow their storefronts to be decorated.
Ms. Waller told the Council that the Union Star awarded the Town office a “Best of the Best” certificate for Best Management Office for 2019.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Barbara Laprade, and unanimously carried, Mayor Nowlin announced that the April 9, 2019 Council meeting was adjourned.
Bobbie A. Waller: Clerk/Treasurer
James Nowlin: Mayor
