October 12, 2010
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
Kenneth Jennings, Richard Adams, Tracy Meisenbach, and Robert Jean, Council Members
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
PUBLIC HEARING FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR CHARLIE AND BARBARA ELDER FOR REZONING OF PARCEL 103-A-3-1-1 AND 103-A-3-1-2A
7:01 p.m. Mayor Campbell called to order the public hearing for the conditional use permit for Charlie and Barbara Elder for the rezoning of parcel 103-A-3-1-1 and 103-A-3-1-2A. Mayor Campbell asked for a report from the planning commission. Mike Crews, Public Works Director and Planning Commission member, told the Council that the planning commission approved the conditional use permit for Charlie and Barbara Elder to rezone the above mentioned parcel numbers. No one spoke in favor of or in opposition to the permit; therefore, Mayor Campbell closed the public hearing at 7:02 p.m.
Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, the Council approved the conditional use permit for Charlie and Barbara Elder.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the October 12, 2010, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council
MINUTES
Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, Council approved the September 14, 2010, Town Council meeting minutes.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Mayor Campbell asked that the October 2010 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
Be it resolved that motion was made by James Nowlin, seconded by Kenneth Jennings, and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of September 15, 2010, to October 12, 2010, in the amount of $24,295.02.
JOHN BARKSDALE—BROOKNEAL—CAMPBELL COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO PRESENT THE ANNUAL REPORT
Mr. John Barksdale of the Brookneal—Campbell County Airport Authority was at the Council meeting to present the annual report for the organization. He updated the Council on some projects being worked on at the airport. He said the final engineering work for the taxi and apron rehabilitation project will be wrapped up next week. He said the entire apron will be resurfaced and new tie down rings will be installed that hold the airplanes down. He said an automated weather information system is being installed courtesy of the state of Virginia to enable people to monitor the weather conditions online in Brookneal. He said they hope to install a fuel tank in 2011. He praised the Town maintenance crew for the outstanding work done to the grounds at the airport.
SCOTT SMITH—REGION 2000
Mr. Scott Smith gave an update on the downtown revitalization grant. He said bid proposals for the way finding signage project and the Town website have been advertised and all proposals are due back to the Region 2000 office by October 22, 2010. Mr. Smith told the Council about a meeting on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at the Brookneal Community Building for the possible formation of a Staunton River Water Trail.
MOTION TO ADOPT THE REVISED PROGRAM INCOME PLAN FOR THE VIRGINIA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
A revised program income plan was given to the Council for their review at the September 2010 Town Council meeting. Members had asked Mr. Smith for a month to review the plan. Upon motion by Tracy Meisenbach, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, the Council approved the revised program income plan for the Virginia Community Development Block Grant.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Alan Jones of 2801 Hampton Woods Drive, Richmond, VA, appeared before Council to discuss the incident that occurred at the home of his parents, Graham and Hazel Jones of 139 Old Main Street. On September 30, 2010, he said his parents woke up to about 18 inches of sewage in their basement. He said his concern is that he wants to know if the Town is going to do right by his parents and fix everything in case the insurance company does not. He presented pictures of some of the damage. Mayor Campbell had distributed a letter from VML to the Council members for their review. Mr. Jones said that the insurance company is going to do what their contract is, and he wants to know if the Town is going to do what is right.
Mike Crews, Public Works Director, said that the majority of what overflowed in the basement was storm water. He said there was a partial blockage, but the line was flowing. He said there was 5 inches of rain that Wednesday night into Thursday, and he said there is a problem with storm water. He said there was more water going in than the line could take out. He said the manhole had flow going through it. Mayor Campbell said that our insurance consists of a no harm $10,000 policy. Mr. Crews said that he had checked into private homeowners insurance, and it does not cover this type of event unless you have an endorsement on your policy for water damage. Mr. Jones said that the homeowner’s insurance is only liable to pay if the backup is from the resident’s system, but not if the backup was from the street. The insurance company could subrogate to the Town. Mr. Crews said that the Town would have to wait for the final bills and the final say as to what VML says they are going to pay. Mr. Jean assured Mr. Jones that the Town would do whatever it was able to do, and whatever it could do upon receiving legal advice from the attorney. Mayor Campbell said that the Town would work to have VML release some of that insurance money for Mr. & Mrs. Jones.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews told the Council that the planning commission in their earlier meeting discussed an overlay for the central business district for downtown with Scott Smith since the grant work is being done in the downtown area. He said the planning commission was going to relay any changes they wanted to see back to him. He said the physical development committee would be meeting and would be giving a recommendation back to Council as to how to proceed on the loft apartments.
Mr. Crews said that he feels we need to protect the reservoir which is the Town’s only water supply. He said that anyone coming into the reservoir with a boat would have to have their boat disinfected prior to going out on the reservoir. Discussion ensued about this issue by Council and the citizens present and the many things that could affect the Town’s reservoir. Mr. Crews said the water treatment plant employees would be responsible for disinfecting the boats and allowing them access to the reservoir through the locked gate. He said they would monitor all traffic going into the reservoir. Ms. Meisenbach said that the Physical Development committee would work on getting a sign for the reservoir regarding this issue.
Mr. Crews said testing was complete on the Phase 1 water lines, and the contractor will soon be hooking up new water meters. He said the switchover was being done at the Staunton River Lagoon from chlorine gas and sodium bisulfate to uv ultraviolet lighting. He said he was getting quotes for doing repairs to the fence at the backstop at the ball park and the basketball fence.
FALL CLEANUP OCTOBER 25, 2010 THROUGH NOVEMBER 5, 2010
Mr. Crews requested that fall cleanup be held October 25, 2010 through November 5, 2010. He said the maintenance crew would help the elderly with an assistance they need for fall cleanup. Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by Tracy Meisenbach, and unanimously carried, the Council set fall cleanup for October 25, 2010 through November 5, 2010.
SET DATE FOR HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREATING
The consensus was to leave Halloween trick or treating on Sunday, October 31, 2010, from 6 to 9 p.m.
MID-ATLANTIC BROADBAND
Mr. Crews distributed an easement agreement to Council members for their review that Mid-Atlantic Broadband had mailed along with a check for $10.00. He said this agreement needed to be reviewed by Council members and forwarded to the attorney for his review. Ms. Meisenbach said that the reason they are sending the $10.00 check is to have money change hands on a real property easement to make it valid for the Town. She said that the attorney fees to review this issue should be covered by Mid-Atlantic instead of just this $10.00 check. Mr. Crews recommended the Physical Development committee review this agreement also.
RESOLUTION FOR VIRGINIA STATEWIDE FIRE PREVENTION CODE
Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION FOR THE TOWN OF BROOKNEAL
VIRGINIA STATEWIDE FIRE PREVENTION CODE
At the regular meeting of the Town of Brookneal Town Council held on the 12th day of October, 2010:
On motion of Council Member Robert Jean, it was resolved the Brookneal Town Council adopts the following resolution:
WHEREAS, Campbell County has adopted the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code to provide for local enforcement to safeguard life and property from the hazards of fire or explosion;
WHEREAS, the Town of Brookneal hereby requests that Campbell County enforce the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code within the town limits; and
WHEREAS, by authority of Va. Code Ann. §27-98 (Cum. Supp. 2010) the Town of Brookneal authorizes the Campbell County Fire Marshal as its designated agent to enforce the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code within the town limits.
NOW THEREFORE, the Brookneal Town Council requests and authorizes Campbell County to enforce the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code within the Town limits.
Adopted this 12th day of October, 2010.
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A verbal vote was taken as follows:
Mr. Jean Aye
Mr. Adams Aye
Mr. Nowlin Aye
Mr. Jennings Aye
Ms. Meisenbach Aye
Mayor Campbell Aye
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Mr. Richard Adams, Finance and Planning Committee chairperson, said that the committee had interviewed individuals for the police department positions. He said Mr. Ricky Baldwin who brings over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, has an interest in the position of chief of police for the Town of Brookneal. The committee’s recommendation is that Mr. Baldwin be offered that position and authorized to be the new Town Chief of Police. Mr. Adams made the motion to hire Mr. Baldwin as the Town’s Chief of Police. Mr. Robert Jean seconded the motion, and it was unanimously carried. Ms. Meisenbach requested a roll call vote since this was an appointment for the charter. A roll call vote was taken as follows:
Mr. Jean Aye
Mr. Adams Aye
Mr. Nowlin Aye
Ms. Meisenbach Aye
Mr. Jennings Aye
Mayor Campbell Aye
Mr. Adams said that several candidates for the position of police officer have been interviewed. He said two individuals appear promising. The committee decided to ask Mr. Baldwin for his input before making a final decision.
Mr. Adams extended his best wishes to Officer Earhart in his new endeavor and wished him the best of success in his career.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Mayor Campbell thanked Officer Earhart for his service to the Town and for his dedication. She said that she had talked to the Town of Altavista, and they are interested in having K-9 Ice come along with Officer Earhart to the Town of Altavista.
Mr. Jean said that he had talked to Mr. Mike Parrish who does the training for the county policemen up at the driving course, and he is interested in purchasing one of the Town’s old police cars.
Ms. Meisenbach said that since K-9 Ice was real property of the Town of Brookneal through a Council resolution that a full Council vote would be required to send him on to Altavista. Mayor Campbell said that since K-9 Ice was purchased with USDA grant money, she had contacted Cindy Bomar with USDA. Ms. Bomar requested a letter from the Town stating that Officer Earhart was leaving and the date he and Ice would be leaving. She said this would be all that was required to send the dog to Altavista.
Councilperson Jennings recommended a commendation be drawn up for Officer Earhart and K-9 Ice for service to the Town of Brookneal above and beyond the call of duty. Mr. Jennings made a motion for a resolution of commendation to be put together for Officer Earhart and Officer Ice. Ms. Meisenbach seconded the motion, and it was unanimously carried.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion from Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the October 12, 2010, Council meeting was adjourned.
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Bobbie A. Waller Phyllis L. Campbell
Clerk/Treasurer Mayor
