June 8, 2021
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
Barbara Laprade, Mark Wilkes, Cynthia Johnson, and Scott Fisher, Council Members
Russell Thurston, Town Manager
Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Richard Baldwin, Chief of Police
Absent: Joseph David, Council Member
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the June 8, 2021 regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.
MINUTES
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes seconded by Cynthia Johnson, and unanimously carried, Council approved the minutes for the May 11, 2021, Town Council meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Mayor Nowlin asked that the June 2021 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
Be it resolved that motion was made by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Barbara Laprade and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of May 12, 2021 to June 8, 2021 in the amount of $12,848.98.
POLICE REPORT
Richard Baldwin, Chief of Police, presented the police report for May 2021. He said of the 58 calls for service, 57 were answered by the Brookneal Police Department and 1 by the Campbell County Sheriff’s office. He told Council that Fun Float Day on the Staunton River is scheduled for June 26, 2021.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews said that the CCR (Customer Consumer Report) about the water quality for the Town of Brookneal is ready and will be on the town website soon and copies will be available in the Town Hall for anyone who wants one. He said that the Dixie Boys and Girls are wrapping up their 2021 ball season this week. He also said that they have over 300 of the trash cans assembled, and they have started distributing them
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Town Manager Russell Thurston said that he will resume having the employee lunch meetings on June 24, 2021; everyone is invited to attend. He said that he plans to have Council meetings again in the Town Council Chambers starting in July 2021. He said that he has been successful in getting some grass cut on some properties in Town. He said that they are planning to get more active in getting the trash cans delivered to residences in the next few weeks. He said that new computers will be installed in the front office this week. He said Mr. Crews has been helping Elite Recycling with some zoning and building permits; they are putting up a couple of large new buildings at the Dan River site. He said these buildings will help them to manage their business and get the Elite property cleaned up. He said since the end of the budget year is approaching, he has been working with Chief Baldwin and Ms. Waller to replace one of the police vehicles. He said that there is money left in the current year budget to purchase a new police vehicle. Chief Baldwin said currently his department has 4 vehicles (2020 Ford Explorer, 2017 Tahoe, 2011 Tahoe, and a 2009 Chevrolet Impala). He said that he wants to take the 2009 Chevrolet Impala out of service and use the 2011 Tahoe as a spare vehicle.
Mr. Thurston said that one of the public works vehicles has had mechanical problems and is not able to remain in service; it has been sold for scrap. He said that he is planning to give his 2004 Dodge truck with 217,000 miles on it to the public works department, and he is going to purchase another used truck for his use.
APPROVAL OF TRANSFER OF A CEMETERY DEED
Mr. Thurston explained that Richard and Rhoda Mary Patterson had 2 graves in Wickliffe Cemetery; both of the parties have passed away and did not use the grave plots. He said their family called the Town office and expressed interest in selling those plots. Mr. Thurston said that he is purchasing the 2 cemetery plots himself and by the Town’s ordinance, any transfer of cemetery plots has to be approved by the Council.
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, the Council authorized the transfer of the cemetery deed consisting of 2 grave plots in Wickliffe Cemetery from Richard and Rhoda Mary Patterson to Russell B. Thurston
APPROVAL/DISAPPROVAL OF THE 2021/2022 GENERAL FUND BUDGET AS PRESENTED AND ADVERTISED
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve the 2021/2022 general fund budget as presented and advertised.
A roll call vote was taken as follows:
Mr. Wilkes Aye
Mayor Nowlin Aye
Mr. Adams Aye
Ms. Johnson Aye
Ms. Laprade Aye
Mr. Fisher Aye
APPROVAL/DISAPPROVAL OF THE 2021/2022 SEWER FUND BUDGET AS PRESENTED AND ADVERTISED
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Cynthia Johnson, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve the 2021/2022 sewer fund budget as presented and advertised.
A roll call vote was taken as follows:
Mr. Wilkes Aye
Mayor Nowlin Aye
Mr. Adams Aye
Mr. Fisher Aye
Ms. Johnson Aye
Ms. Laprade Aye
REQUEST FOR TRANSFERS OF APPROPRIATION
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Cynthia Johnson, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve the following request for transfers of appropriation as outlined by the treasurer.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Physical Development Committee Chairperson Mark Wilkes said that his committee met at 6:00 p.m. prior to this meeting to discuss derelict properties in the Town. Mr. Wilkes said his committee’s recommendation was to ask Council to allocate some money in the budget for the purpose of having funds to pay an outside provider to clean up these properties (mow the grass and move items in the way as needed).
MOTION TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM THE BUDGET FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING PROPERTIES
He offered a motion to allocate $1,000 from the budget for the purpose of maintaining properties in the Town with that maintenance to be done by an outside contractor and not the Town staff. The motion was seconded by Richard Adams, and was unanimously carried. In response to a question from Chief Baldwin, Mr. Thurston said that he would make a list of at least 5 providers who would be available to mow these lawns if necessary.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Councilperson Wilkes said that families are using the ballpark facilities and leaving their trash; they are not cleaning up after themselves. He asked about having people to report to the Town Hall when they are using the ballpark facilities, so that someone can be held accountable for cleaning up the facilities after their use. Mr. Crews said that the ball park facilities are available on a first come, first serve basis
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Barbara Laprade, and unanimously carried, Mayor Nowlin announced that the June 8, 2021 Council meeting was adjourned.
Bobbie A. Waller: Clerk/Treasurer
James Nowlin: Mayor
