P.O. Box 450/215 Main Street Brookneal, VA 24528

December 14, 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

Ricky Baldwin, Chief of Police

 

 

INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the December 14, 2010, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council with the following additions: 1) Resolution for BB&T 2) Police Report from Chief Baldwin

 

 

MINUTES

Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, Council approved the November 9, 2010 and November 19, 2010, Town Council meeting minutes.

 

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

 

Mayor Campbell asked that the December 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 November 10, 2010, to December 14, 2010, in the amount of $15,232.70.

 

REQUEST FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING

Nannette Haga, representing William Campbell High School, sent an email to the clerk/treasurer requesting use of the community building on two separate dates.  One was either December 11 or December 18 for a Christmas bazaar fundraising event to benefit the Drama/Forensics/Yearbook/Girls’ Volleyball and Basketball and Boys’ Basketball groups.  The other date was for December 11, December 18, December 19, or December 20 (whichever date was available) for a banquet in honor of the Girls’ Volleyball Team.  Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, the Council approved the usage of the community building at no charge to these groups as dates are available.

 

 

RESOLUTION FOR THE WILLIAM CAMPBELL BAND

 

Upon motion by Tracy Meisenbach, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, the Council approved the following resolution for the William Campbell High School Band.

 

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

 

Mayor Campbell presented the following resolution to teacher Mr. Doug Brown representing the band who was in attendance at the meeting.

 

RESOLUTION OF COMMENDATION

 

WILLIAM CAMPBELL HIGH SCHOOL BAND

 

 

WHEREAS, the William Campbell High School Band was awarded $40,000 by In Tune magazine as a result of the band’s participation in the national “Ultimate Music Room Makeover” essay contest, and

 

WHEREAS, the presentation of this award has brought distinction and recognition to the William Campbell High School Band as well as notoriety to Campbell County and the Town of Brookneal on a national level which is a credit to all of those involved in the development of the winning essay, and

 

WHEREAS, eleven music industry manufactures will provide recording and performance gear, musical instruments, and software that will be used by band members to perfect and grow their musical talents and abilities using state of the art equipment, and

 

WHEREAS, the William Campbell High School Band Director, Mr. Doug Brown, demonstrated creativity, initiative, and his deep seated commitment to the band as well as his belief that the musicians of the William Campbell High School Band under his charge truly had a story worthy of sharing across the nation.

 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Brookneal Town Council does hereby commend the William Campbell High School Band for this great accomplishment.  These efforts will provide the latest musical equipment technology needed to further develop both present and future members of the band.

 

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that the Brookneal Town Council sincerely appreciates the vision and commitment of the William Campbell High School Band Director, Mr. Doug Brown, for his time, talent, dedication, and belief in the young musicians of the William Campbell High School Band.

 

 

Signed this 14th day of December 2010 with all of the members of the Brookneal Town Council voting in the affirmative.

 

 

 

 

________________________________                    _________________________________

Phyllis Campbell – Mayor                                        ATTEST - Clerk

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Howard Wells informed the Council that he would put off working on the slide at the ball park until spring of the year.  He also commended Councilperson Jennings for explaining business of the town in words that he could understand.

 

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

Public Works Director Mike Crews told the Council that Phase 1 of the water lines is completed.  He said a punch list of items that need to be addressed is being prepared for the contractor to review.  He also said 140 touch read water meters have been installed, and training has been done with the employees on reading the touch meters.

 

  • PUBLIC HEARING FOR GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND FOR $175,000 FOR PHASE 2 OF THE WATER LINE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

 

He also informed the Council that an ad for a public hearing at the January 11, 2011 meeting needs to be run in the paper.  The public hearing will be concerning a general obligation bond for $175,000 for Phase 2 of the water line improvement project.  He asked for a motion for the public hearing.  Upon motion by Tracy Meisenbach, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, the Council authorized the advertisement of the public hearing for the general obligation bond for $175,000 for Phase 2 of the water line improvement project.

 

Mr. Crews said the water treatment plant project is 75% complete.  He said the lagoons are 80% complete.  He said since the town holidays are Thursday, December 23, 2010 and Friday, December 24, 2010, therefore, trash pickup for Thursday, December 23, 2010 will be on Wednesday, December 22, 2010.

 

After much discussion about the condition of the Christmas lights this year, a motion was made by Councilperson Jennings to form a citizen’s committee to look into purchasing new Christmas lights.  The motion received a second by James Nowlin and was unanimously carried.

 

 

POLICE REPORT

Chief Ricky Baldwin handed out a monthly police report for the Council’s review.

 

 

DISCUSSION OF AIRPORT

  • AIRPORT FUNDING

 

Mayor Campbell said that she had received a call from Mike Davidson regarding the Brookneal Campbell County airport.  She said that each year the Town budgets a certain amount for the airport as the Town’s input to finance the airport.  This year’s amount was $4,500.  The Town also does in kind work by cutting the grass and weed eating at the airport.  Mr. Davidson asked if it would be okay for the Council to approve sending the lump sum amount of $4,500 all at one time since his office is short staffed right now.  Councilperson Jennings made a motion to accommodate the airport and do as they asked.  Councilperson Adams asked if he could comment on the issue while his motion was on the table.  Mr. Adams said that the airport authority has done a lot of work on trying to upgrade, update, and modernize the airport.  He said they have spent a tremendous amount of money that was grant funds that have matching monies.  He said money in the account up there like that will get spent very quickly.  He said that he has voted against some of the things they have done simply because of budget issues.  He said the excuse of being short staffed is not really a good excuse for the Town submitting a lump sum especially when the Town is doing a lot of in-kind work.  Mr. Jennings said that he felt we are going to spend that money with them anyway.  Ms. Meisenbach suggested breaking the amount down into three (3) payments, and the County should submit an accounting of each payment.  Mr. Jennings amended his motion to read that the Town will pay the airport the budgeted amount in 90 day disbursements of $1,500 each with the note that the Town’s in-kind work that is given to the authority be evaluated and added to the balance in their report back to us.  The motion was seconded by Tracy Meisenbach, and unanimously carried.

 

  • APPOINTMENT OF NEW BROOKNEAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE AIRPORT

 

Mayor Campbell said that Ben Updike is very interested in working with the airport authority.  She said this term would be for 4 years.  She said that if this meets the approval of the Council, she asked for a motion to appoint Ben Updike to the airport authority.  Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by Kenneth Jennings, and unanimously carried, the Council appointed Ben Updike to serve as a Brookneal representative on the airport authority.

 

 

MOTION TO TRANSFER K-9 EQUIPMENT TO ALTAVISTA

 

Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by Tracy Meisenbach, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to transfer the K-9 equipment including the K-9 insert in the police car to the Town of Altavista.

 

 

RESOLUTION FOR BB&T

Clerk/Treasurer Bobbie Waller said that in December of 2009, the Town borrowed $2.5m from BB&T as an interim loan to finance the water project until closing with USDA when the Town would be reimbursed for the water project.  She said that since the deadline is approaching and everything is not done yet, the Town has asked BB&T for an extension on this loan.  She said BB&T has accepted this request and has pushed the due date of the loan to January 28, 2011.  She said that BB&T asked that this resolution be approved by the Council to extend the loan due date to January 28, 2011.

 

Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve the following resolution for BB&T.

 

A verbal vote was taken as follows:

 

Mr. Jean         Aye                 Mr. Adams                 Aye

Mr. Nowlin     Aye                 Ms. Meisenbach       Aye

Mr. Jennings Aye                 Mayor Campbell       Aye

 

RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF BROOKNEAL, VIRGINIA

 

 

WHEREAS, the Town of Brookneal (the “Town”) has issued its $2,500,000.00 Water Distribution System Improvements General Obligation Note, Series 2009 ("the Note"), dated December 22, 2009,  and payable with one payment of principal and accrued interest on December 20, 2010; and

 

WHEREAS, Branch Banking and Trust Company, Charlotte, North Carolina (the "Purchaser") has purchased the Note; and

 

WHEREAS, the Town and the Purchaser have agreed to extend the payment date of the Note and there has been presented to this meeting an Allonge to the Note (the “Allonge”) extending the payment date of the Note to January 28, 2011;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF BROOKNEAL, VIRGINIA:

 

That the form, terms and provisions of the Allonge substantially in the form presented to this meeting, be, and hereby are, approved and the officers of the Town are hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver the Allonge to the Purchaser in substantially the form presented.

 

That the form of the Allonge as presented to this meeting is hereby ordered filed by the Clerk of Council with this Resolution in the records of Council.

 

 

This Resolution was adopted by a vote of the Brookneal Town Council on the ­­­­14th day of December, 2010.

 

 

_________________________________

Clerk of Town Council

 

 

RESOLUTION FOR KENNETH JENNINGS

The following resolution was presented to Councilperson Jennings upon his last meeting on the Town Council.

TOWN OF BROOKNEAL

RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION

Kenneth Jennings

 

 

Whereas, Mr. Kenneth Jennings has dedicated eight and one-half years to the service of the citizens of the Town of Brookneal while serving as a member of their Town Council, and

 

Whereas, Mr. Jennings has provided leadership and dedication to the Town Council while enjoying the respect and admiration of his fellow council members, and

 

Whereas, Mr. Jennings has always represented the citizens well with his expertise and vigilance of keeping the Town financially sound, and

 

Whereas, Mr. Jennings has been present at 99% of all Council, budget, and committee meetings, taking his oath and commitment seriously to the citizens of the Town of Brookneal, and

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Brookneal hereby expresses its sincere appreciation to Kenneth Jennings for his time, talent, and dedication in representing the citizens of Brookneal while serving as a member of the Brookneal Town Council.

 

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that this “RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION” be recorded in the permanent records of the Town of Brookneal as a testimony of the Town’s gratitude to Kenneth for his service and dedication.

 

 

 

________________________________

Phyllis S. Campbell

Mayor, Town of Brookneal

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

Councilperson Meisenbach told the Council that Mr. Mark Wilkes will be coming on the Council in the New Year and will therefore need to come off the planning commission as a Council member.  She asked the Mayor and Councilperson Jennings if he would be willing to come onto the planning commission in Mr. Wilkes’ place.  She said that was her recommendation through the physical development committee to make this suggestion to the Mayor.  Physical Development Committee Chairperson Nowlin said he would handle that.

 

Finance and Planning Committee Chairperson Richard Adams said that he needed to discuss something with the Council, but it needed to be done in closed session.  Therefore, a closed session was added to the agenda.

 

CLOSED SESSION

Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to go into closed session under VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A)(1) for the purpose of discussing the Town Manager’s position.

 

A verbal vote was taken as follows:

 

Mr. Jean         Aye                 Mr. Adams                 Aye

Mr. Nowlin     Aye                 Ms. Meisenbach       Aye

Mr. Jennings Aye                 Mayor Campbell       Aye

 

 

CERTIFICATION

Mayor Campbell called for a vote certifying that only those items were discussed as allowed under VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A)(1) for the purpose of discussing the Town Manager’s position.

 

The vote was as follows:

 

Mr. Jean                     Aye                 Ms. Meisenbach                   Aye

Mr. Adams                 Aye                 Mr. Jennings                         Aye

Mr. Nowlin                 Aye                 Mayor Campbell                   Aye

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

Upon motion from Richard Adams, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the December 14, 2010, Council meeting was adjourned.

 

 

 

 

___________________________                  ____________________________

Bobbie A. Waller                                             Phyllis L. Campbell

Clerk/Treasurer                                               Mayor