June 9, 2020
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
Joseph David and Cynthia Johnson, Council Members
Russell Thurston, Town Manager
Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Richard Baldwin, Chief of Police
Absent: Phyllis Campbell, Mark Wilkes and Barbara Laprade, Council Members
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
ANNOUNCEMENT
Mayor Nowlin said that there are not enough members present tonight to constitute a quorum, so no voting can take place. He said a meeting will have to be set for another date in June in order to adopt the budget for the FY21 before July 1, 2020.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ginger St. John was in attendance and spoke a little bit about water problems they have at the Drugstore Grill. She said the water turns sour or foul and ruins the taste of the Pepsi products and the iced tea.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Richard Baldwin presented the police report for May 2020. He said of the 53 calls for service last month, 50 were answered by the Brookneal Police Department and 3 by the Campbell County Sheriff’s office. He said that a letter is going to the property owner of 214 Old Main Street (the house that partially burned but is still standing), and he passed out a copy of that letter to the Council members.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews said that the Brookneal Dixie Girls and Boys did not get to play their regular season this spring due to COVID-19. He said that since the William Campbell High School girls did not get to play their senior year, Dixie Youth is going to allow them to play in the Dixie Debs state tournament. He said that the Dixie Girls have made a request for hosting traveling team tournaments at the Brookneal ball park for fund raising purposes. He said he told them they would have to have the teams sign a hold harmless agreement to protect the Town from any liability. He said he would be sending out the water quality reports for 2019 at the end of June. He said that he has been going to the hazardous mitigation meetings, and they are working on the plan but it probably will be another year before it is completed.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Town Manager Russell Thurston said that the brand-new sanitation vehicle will be delivered to the Town of Brookneal June 10, 2020. He said that he and Chief Baldwin are working on some problem properties here in Town. He said he did receive a report from the company that is doing the lodging study, but there was a lot of legalese in the report. He said he asked them to break the report down into terms that everyone could understand.
Mr. Thurston said that the request Councilperson Johnson made at a prior Council meeting concerning water issues on Cook Avenue has been addressed by VDOT. He told the Council that Williams Lumber Supply Company will celebrate their 115th Anniversary this year; he said they have been owned by the same family during this time. Ms. Waller suggested the Council doing a resolution for them in honor of this anniversary. Vice Mayor Adams suggested also doing something for Brookneal Drug Company. Consensus from the Council was to work on a resolution for both of the Brookneal businesses.
Mr. Thurston said that he hopes to have the Town office back open to the public on Monday, June 15, 2020. He said he is working on a plexiglass barrier for the front desk, and hopes that it will be done by then.
DISCUSSION OF MEETING TO VOTE IN THE FY21 BUDGET
The group discussed having a called Council meeting to vote on the FY21 budget and to vote on the 2020 Amendment to the Mutual Aid Agreement. The consensus from everyone was to meet on June 18, 2020 at 4 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers. Councilperson Johnson would be on vacation, but she could call in for the meeting (as allowed under COVID-19 guidelines during this period of time).
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
There were no committee recommendations.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
There were no items from Town Council.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Nowlin announced that the June 9, 2020 Council meeting would be continued until Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 4 p.m.
Bobbie A. Waller: Clerk/Treasurer
James Nowlin: Mayor
