November 10, 2020
MINUTES OF THE BROOKNEAL TOWN COUNCIL
7:00 PM – The regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the municipal government of the Town of Brookneal met at the Brookneal Community Building, 261 Main Street, so that social distancing could be practiced properly, with the following members present:
James Nowlin, Mayor
Richard Adams, Vice Mayor
Mark Wilkes, Barbara Laprade, 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: Richard Adams, Vice Mayor and Phyllis Campbell, Council Member
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Joseph David, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the November 10, 2020, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.
MINUTES
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes seconded by Joseph David, and unanimously carried, Council approved the minutes for the October 13, 2020 Physical Development Committee meeting and Town Council meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Mayor Nowlin asked that the November 2020 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
Be it resolved that motion was made by Joseph David, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of October 14, 2020 to November 10, 2020 in the amount of $13,439.50.
CLAY STEWART FROM SCS BROADBAND/ACELENET
Clay Stewart from SCS Broadband/Acelenet appeared before Council upon a request that was made by the Town Council. Mr. Stewart gave an update as to where his company stands on bringing broadband services to the Town residents. Mr. Stewart said he has faced many obstacles since starting this project. He said he has not been paid yet for work and equipment installed on the Town’s water tower. This money was provided by a tobacco grant, but he has not been reimbursed yet. He said he has been having trouble getting parts and equipment from China/Taiwan since the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Stewart also explained that he has to pay tariff fees of 30% on every dollar spent to obtain equipment from China/Taiwan. He said marketing in Brookneal has been tough, and he has previously spent $4,000 on a marketing campaign in Brookneal, but has not had much success with it. He said he has multiple projects ongoing with towers being built in multiple locations. He said he has sold his company, and River Street Networks out of NC is now helping with the funding for his projects. He said that he hopes to start a new marketing campaign in Brookneal in the next couple of weeks. He is offering 20 Mbps of speed for $30/month, and his signs to promote this offer are scheduled to arrive 11/14/20. He said this offer is a 1-year special offer.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appeared before Council during public comment.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Richard Baldwin presented the police report for October 2020. He said of the 66 calls for service, 65 were answered by the Brookneal Police Department and 1 by the Campbell County Sheriff’s office. He said Halloween went well in the Town of Brookneal.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews said the regional hazardous mitigation plan process is complete, and the plan is on the town website and can be reviewed by Council members. He said that any comments or additions can be directed to him or Mr. Thurston.
Mr. Crews said that a crew contracted by VDOT was in Town on November 2, 2020 to update all the ADA crossings on Wickliffe Avenue, Lusardi Drive, and Lynchburg Avenue.
Mr. Crews told Council that with the Thanksgiving holiday upcoming in about 2 weeks, normal trash pickup done on Thursday, November 26, 2020 will instead be collected on Wednesday, November 25, 2020.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Town Manager Russell Thurston said he and Mr. Crews met with Robert Brown from VDOT last week on the parking issue at intersection of Main Street and Rush Street. He said Mr. Brown said that from his perspective there is no need to do anything. He said that the Council could make a motion to request that parking be prohibited from certain areas. He said that Mr. Brown said that if that is the wish of Council then he would work with the Town on that. Mr. Thurston pointed out that VDOT done milling and paving on Lusardi Drive last year, and milling and paving on Lynchburg Avenue this year as well as the updates last week to the ADA crossings at the cost of over $1 million.
He said the Town is working on the Christmas parade which is going to be December 3 with the theme of “Charlie Brown Christmas”. Mr. Thurston also reminded the Council that they voted last year not to hold December Council meeting if it was not necessary.
Mr. Thurston told the Council that an ad is running for sealed bids for the police Dodge Charger and the public works Ford F150; those bids are due by November 16, 2020. He also said an ad was ran for the invitation for bids for the landscaping project at the community building grounds.
He told the Council that the Town is eligible for funds from the CARES Act (Corona Virus Relief Fund Act from the federal government). He said that the Town has $191,000 available from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He said the money has to be spent by 12/30/20. He said that he has a suggested listing of items that he is giving to the Council members tonight. He said that any expenses for law enforcement, and fire and emergency services automatically qualifies for the CARES act funding. He said he is also proposing the purchase of 850 trash cans to be used by Town households. He said that a provision in the CARES act allows for expenses related to expanding solid waste capacity; he said more families are working from home and being home from school due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he is also including additional dumpsters in his list. He said the protective barrier for the Town Hall front desk, and supplies such as gloves, sanitizer, hands free soap and towel dispensers are being included as well as 2 notebook computers that could be used for tele-work purposes.
MOTION CONCERNING CARES ACT FUNDING
Upon motion by Barbara Laprade, seconded by Joseph David and unanimously carried, the Council authorized the Town Manager to request up to $155,700 in CARES Act Funding from Campbell County to be used for police salaries, expanding solid waste capacity, personal protective equipment, and improved employee telework capabilities.
MOTION FOR CHRISTMAS BONUSES FOR TOWN EMPLOYEES
Upon motion by Barbara Laprade, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, the Council authorized the treasurer to issue a Christmas check in the net amount of $300.00 to each full-time employee. Ms. Laprade noted that the funds have already been included in the annual budget and the checks shall be issued by December 17, 2020.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
There was none.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
There were no items from Town Council.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Joseph David, and unanimously carried, Mayor Nowlin announced that the November 10, 2020, Council meeting was adjourned.
Bobbie A. Waller: Clerk/Treasurer
James Nowlin: Mayor
