1 Appomattox Town Council Regular Council Meeting November 9, 2015
The Appomattox Town Council held a Regular Council meeting on Monday, November 9, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. at the Appomattox Municipal Building, 210 Linden Street, Appomattox, Virginia with Mayor Harvey presiding.
Members present: Timothy W. Garrett, C. Lewis McDearmon, Jr., Mary Lou Spiggle, M. Erin Finch and Claudia G. Puckette.
Absent: Steven T. Conner
Others present: Daniel Puckette, Times Virginian; Ashlie Walter, News & Advance; Carlton Duck and Brian Moore, Alive Media TV; Mark Thomas, Southside Electric Cooperative; Ben Bowman, Region 2000 Workforce Development Director; Gary Christie, Executive Director, Region 2000 Local Government Council; Jeff Elder, Facilities Director; Stacey Wilkes, Town Treasurer; and C. William Gillespie, Jr., Town Manager, and Roxanne Casto, Town Clerk.
Mayor Harvey called the meeting to order and welcomed all the visitors.
Rev. Brian Moore opened the meeting with a prayer and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor’s Comments: Mayor Harvey thanked staff and Council for helping with the Halloween event in Abbitt Park on Thursday, October 29, 2015. The Town served almost 500 hot dogs.
Mayor Harvey also commented that there is an important item for consideration on tonight’s agenda. He hopes that everyone has had a chance to look at it carefully. We were all elected to replace a Council that wasn’t doing much from the general fund. It’s time for us to show what we were elected for. We’ve only done a few items (the Abbitt Park, inside the railroad depot and a few small sidewalk projects). We have put a lot of money into this and hundreds and hundreds of staff hours to get this project together. This has come together as more of a family park instead of just a kiddie park. Part of our mission statement [in there on the wall] is to improve the quality of life and we have an opportunity to do that with this new park. So I hope everyone has had an opportunity to look through the material so we can discuss it tonight.
Scheduled Public Appearances: Mark Thomas, Community Relations Coordinator for Southside Electric Cooperative appeared before Council to introduce himself. He has been on the job for about 5 months. He has been going around the area speaking to Towns, Counties and chambers. Southside Electric Cooperative offers more than electricity. While there are 1670 connections in the County of Appomattox, none are actually in the Town. Southside Electricity has not had a loss injury in 2 years. Southside has been sponsoring and partnering with the following: Appomattox Railroad Festival, Appomattox 1865 Foundation Lantern Tours, the Appomattox Angels softball team that went the World Series, College Scholarships and youth tours in Washington, DC. Mr. Thomas thanked Council for allowing him the opportunity to speak.
2 Appomattox Town Council Regular Council Meeting November 9, 2015
Mr. Ben Bowman, Director of the Workforce Development Board updated Council on the past year, stating it has been a very busy year. They have been focused on imposing guidelines of the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. This fall, they will be working with the County library to meet the needs of the County’s youth and adults who may need assistance with job searches. They continue to work with the Appomattox County Economic Development Director, Jeff Taylor. The goal is to make sure anyone looking for training services is assisted.
There were no questions from Council. Mr. Bowman thanked Council for allowing him the opportunity to come out and speak to them.
Mr. Gary Christie, Executive Director, Region 2000 Local Government Council presented the Annual Report. Mr. Christie reported that the spring 2016 Annual Dinner would be held at the new hotel in the April. The Local Government Council has assisted the Town the Comprehensive Plan, CDBG Greater Meadowlark Grant, Housing Study, and the Safety Traffic Study (Main & Church Street).
The Local Government Council is working with Appomattox Council on their comprehensive plan, solid waste disposal, an agricultural grant, and tourism initiative. For every $1 in dues paid by localities, the commission generates into $41 of grant money.
The Local Government Council continues to work with VDOT on the new transportation priority system, HB 2 ranking (providing input) on the Route 131 and 460 corridor.
Mr. Christie also reminded Council that the Local Government Council is not involved with the merger between the Economic Development Alliance and the Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce. The merger is expected to be finalized in January 2016.
There were no questions from Council.
Mr. Christie thanked Council for the opportunity.
Consent Agenda –
On a motion by Mr. McDearmon, seconded by Mrs. Puckette, Council voted to adopt the consent agenda for November 9, 2015 as presented. Vote: Garrett – yes, McDearmon – yes, Spiggle – yes, Finch – yes, Puckette – yes. Absent: Conner Motion carried 5-0.
Unfinished Business – Council consideration to award the bids for the upgrades to the Children’s Park. Mayor Harvey – we have the bids that were presented at the last regular meeting (October) and nothing has changed. Does anyone have anything they would like to bring up to discuss?
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Mrs. Puckette – I have a couple of things – I have been hearing some conflicting information and I just want to get straight on what we did do and I was told that – I wish Mr. Conner was here tonight so he could help me understand but he told me at the County Industrial Park when the Governor was here and that Proctor Harvey did the bidding process for what we have and he told me that the advertising was only done on the internet and that is why we have such few bids. Can anyone address this for me- is that what happened? My thought was it was done the way we always do stuff – I would just like to find out – does anyone know what really happened?
Mr. Gillespie said he remembers because he did it. I didn’t want Proctor Harvey to do the bid documents or put the packages together primarily because of all the alternates we had so anyway I did all that and I wanted to be able to put the language in there to give Council the most flexibility and be able to choose since you wanted to be able to see specific things with specific numbers, instead of a lump sum – this way you wouldn’t have to go back and negotiate it. I also handled the advertisement. It wasn’t advertised on the internet. It was advertised publically in the newspaper. The Clerk was the one who put it in the paper. I did the notice – she advertised it. I don’t know where that information came from but it met Procurement law, the way we did it.
Puckette – Again, I wish Steve were here but he told me that and I just wanted to be sure. Would there have been anything wrong with us putting the bids on the internet?
Mr. Gillespie – It wouldn’t have been anything wrong with it but we are traditionalist and we have always advertised locally but we decided to advertise in the Lynchburg paper to give us more coverage. I thought we did what we needed to do and most contractors (be it big or small) usually subscribe to a solicitation service that lets them know these things are coming. We also put it in on Sunday, which is when most companies are looking for this type of thing.
Puckette – So there was nothing unusual about how this was handled?
Gillespie – No
Puckette – Thank you
Wilkes – It is also required by procurement law to place the advertisement in the newspaper.
Puckette – So the next point is probably mute but since we didn’t pay Proctor Harvey to do the bidding process, then we didn’t pay him $20,000 for the bids.
Gillespie – He (Proctor) basically put together the bid specifications for all the equipment, the layout and design drawings.
Puckette – That’s something we voted on
Gillespie – Correct
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Puckette – Other things Mr. Conner had spoken to that he isn’t here to share was information from other localities. So anyway…
Gillespie – If you are speaking of the Chilhowie proposal, which I have seen – there is really no comparison to the Chilhowie. It was basically 2 pieces of play equipment. The scope of work you have approved and the conceptual layout is much larger than that. You basically have 4 groups – 0-2, 2-5, 5-12 and a handicapped area. You essentially have a much larger scope than what the other one (Chilhowie) was. You have pavilions, benches, and grills. The scopes are no comparison - $150,000-160,000 in comparison.
Puckette – So we aren’t comparing apples to apples then?
Gillespie – Not really
Puckette – Finally, isn’t Little Tikes one of the best companies to get for playground equipment? I thought I overhead Timmy (Garrett) say it was a good company. That’s my experience it’s a good company.
Gillespie – I called 4 localities – Charlottesville, York County, Powhatan and another one – all using Little Tikes as their standard and Charlottesville has done 8-10 playgrounds.
Puckette – I remembered them from my teachings days and I think they are a good company. From what you see here are the prices reasonable?
Gillespie – Maybe the Clerk could speak better to that – She’s been working on this for at least 3 years – priced it – I would think it is.
Casto – I know the books I have all indicate these are good prices – It’s in line with everything I have in my office.
Puckette – I am generally low in prices when looking for estimates – I was figuring $450,000 so again my estimate is a little low and true to form for me.
Harvey – Are there any other council member questions, comments or ideas?
Garrett – One concern I have, due to being in the process of purchasing the land beside it I think we need to look at how that’s going to play into the whole project, before we go spending $500,000 or whatever we spend or agree to.
I think it may even dictate where we put the equipment, in my mind – in lieu of what we were talking about. I think that needs to be looked at or considered.
I am all for doing what we are talking about doing but I think we’ve done a lot since we’ve been on Town Council. We are moving forward – trying to everyday – I do think we need to if we are not going to approve it tonight – how much ground are we going to lose – coming up on the
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winter months. I don’t have any problems with the items we got out to bid but I think we can get some other companies in and we can get some fairer prices in. I think we need to look at how this other piece of property is going to affect this. We may want to shift the whole thing and the change the whole layout and change the whole thing in my mind. The money – I don’t have a problem spending the money – but I want a good project not one that’s washed down the hill where it’s at now. The land where it is at and the project can be utilized to include the other piece of property and in the middle of buying. Right now if we go with what we’ve got it will all be put on the lower end.
Puckette – Were we going to use the other (new Abbitt property) for parking?
Garrett – Well the way it was - the new land was not looked at with the project he designed. We might be able to utilize the new property to make a better park – a better project. That’s the only problem I have.
Harvey – I would sit here and disagree with you. This property in the design process wouldn’t really change that much. If you are talking about redesigning it – redoing it – bid proposals and change the scope – plans and everything.
Garrett – Well I don’t understand that.
Gillespie – You can compare it to “shopping” the bid. You would have to change it. You can’t advertise the same thing. The other thing is that the bids are no good after this month. So the point may be mute.
Garrett – It could be less
Gillespie – It could be more
Spiggle – It could be less
Garrett – We talked about it years ago – about buying the property – and since then we’ve designed this park. In my mind it would be better to have a playground on a flatter piece of land than on a hill. That’s all I’m bringing up.
Harvey – Isn’t grading in the project?
Garrett – Not in the specs
Gillespie – All the parking was to keep away from the play area. It was never considered before.
Spiggle – I am of the opinion that Timmy has. None of us have a problem whatsoever with redoing the Kiddie Park. It is not about that. We all want to do this and bring the best park or the family park as the best park possible and now we have decided to purchase some land which adjoins it and is contiguous to it so what are we going to do with that property? Let’s take a deep
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breath and take another look at it – see if we can do better – even better. Once you get the Kiddie Park done it’s going to be there for 20-30 years. It’s already been there for 20 years. It’s almost winter. Let’s slow down a little bit and reconsider this. I agree with Timmy – I believe we can do better but we do want to do it. I don’t want that laid on me or Timmy or anyone. No, you are against spending money on the public – that’s not it at all. I just say let’s get the best deal we can. Let’s do the best we can for the public.
Puckette – Do you have any idea what it will cost for dollars if we put this off? Specs and plans? Redo? $20,000 already.
Gillespie – I don’t have a feel for the scope. If you are talking about the same scope you have to be careful of that – You don’t want a contractor coming back and saying you know my price now and now you want to shop my price. With a public bid you cannot do that. Privately a lot of people do that. If it’s the same scope or something else – I don’t know what you’re saying.
Puckette – Are you saying…
Harvey – The scope has to change.
Garrett – I don’t understand that – It’s the same scope, it’s the same equipment. It takes the same scope to put it in the ground.
Gillespie – What am I saying? Is the prices are no good after this month.
Garrett – We have the right to refuse all the bids and rebid it.
Spiggle – That would be ok in my mind.
Gillespie – That’s what you’d have to do – rebid it.
Puckette – Are you thinking of putting additional equipment in or what’s the purpose?
Garrett – I don’t think we can afford additional equipment. It is just the lay of the land. You go to a playground that is on a slope as opposed to a flat piece of land. I didn’t see any excavating in that proposal, except where they are going to put the bathrooms maybe. How much leveling of the land….they can’t do a whole lot. It’s going to be on a hill. We have a hard time at the schools keeping the fall protection material to stay in the playground. Now that we have that piece of land – look at shifting it to a…the parking change that around…yes maybe it will cost us more money but it will make a better park on a flatter piece of property than on the side of a hill going to creek.
Puckette – I never noticed it being on a hill – maybe I’ve missed something.
Garrett – I don’t know what the grade is but it slopes to the stormwater creek.
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Puckette – Do you think the stuff there now has washed out?
Garrett – Everything I have with less slope than that has washed out.
Puckette – I mean over there – have you seen where it’s washed out?
Garrett – Jeff have you had any rutting out over there?
Jeff Elder – The kids kick stuff out and it goes down the hill. Kids are going to play in it.
Puckette – Well they are going to kick it out one way or another.
Garrett – I am all for doing everything we’ve talked about down there.
Spiggle – Me too
Garrett – I just think we need to look at it with the new piece of property.
Finch – I have a question about the alternates and putting it back out to bid. The contractor with the lowest responsible base bid was not able to give us a quote on the alternates?
Gillespie – No, the way the bid is structured, the Town bid statement says that the Town reserves the right to offer the lowest responsible bid and any collection of alternates.
Finch – That was my question – would it have to go back out to bid?
Gillespie – No, not because of that.
Puckette – Best case scenario – I am just trying to understand if we did it your way – stopped everything and relooked at it – what is the best thing that you see that could come from it – what are you really looking for to happen – that isn’t going to happen anyway? Question for Timmy or Mary Lou – either one…
Garrett – Just a better playground – better environment on a flatter piece of land than it is on a slope (chuckle) from kids running – any playground company will tell you that they’d rather put it on a flat surface than on the side of a hill. You can call anyone of them and they would tell you the flatter the better. That’s all – the land we are looking at buying is a whole lot better than the current location.
Puckette – And just to move the equipment from one side to another we would have to redo the whole process?
Gillespie – No, if you keep the same scope – if I am understanding what he is saying, you could award it now and just move it where you want to move it.
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Harvey – That was going to be my question
Puckette – well, then that might save us money
Harvey – Go ahead and purchase the equipment we’ve talked about and then redesign the process if that’s agreeable.
Puckette – How much do you think Proctor Harvey would charge us to do that?
Gillespie – I don’t know – but it couldn’t be much. I think what they were trying to do was to group the ages together so you could keep the kids all in one area. Then have the picnic areas away from that. Mr. Garrett’s talking about moving an area to that property or another area or relocate the road.
Puckette – And not have to change all this?
Gillespie – If you have to relocate the road then obviously you are talking about more money. If you are talking about moving the equipment – then you just move it. That’s not a big deal. Instead of it being over here it would be over there.
Puckette – Would that be agreeable Timmy?
Garrett – I think we need to get other prices.
Spiggle – I do too – We can get better prices.
Puckette – Why do you think that?
Spiggle – We only got 2 people to bid and tell me the total bid?
Harvey – what are you basing that on?
Spiggle – Tell me the total bid Roxanne, say it out loud.
Casto – The total? I don’t have that. I have the base bid as $201,129.
Spiggle – Did you not say $550,000?
Casto/Harvey – no – I didn’t say that. I have on my notes at the bottom that alternate #1 the base bid, alternate 1, option 2 with tough coat - $406,381.
Puckette - $406,381 – I hate to see that price get away from us.
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Harvey – The other 3 alternates the Town could do. We felt like in talking with Mr. Gillespie and Jeff we could get it at $550,000 to do the other parts. Mr. Gillespie has already researched the pre-fab toilets and can get them for $65,000.
Puckette – That’s a whole lot more than $20,000.
Harvey – Steve was looking at a waterless one which is has a lot of odor issues.
Gillespie – It has one stall inside instead of 2.
Spiggle – So when you add the alternate plans to the $406,381, the total is?
Harvey – we are going to try to come in at $550,000
Spiggle – That’s what I said to begin with.
Harvey – no, you said…
Spiggle – The bid is lower than that, but in order to accomplish everything we want to do is $550,000 which is more than a half a million dollars. And, we have the money but we need to be fiscally responsible with the money and not just say “we have the money, we need to spend it”.
Harvey – I don’t think anyone on this council is saying that
Spiggle – you said that to me Paul
Harvey – No, I said we have the money to pay for this and we have a good bid in hand.
Spiggle – That’s not what you said – That’s fine - we need to spend the money wisely and be fiscally responsible.
Puckette – I think part of this is that Steve had told all of us when the Governor was here…
Spiggle – My opinion is not based on anything Steve’s told me
Puckette – (continued) these bids were too high – and I was hoping he was going to be here tonight and I asked him to bring some concrete evidence of that. That we were looking at too much money because if other people are saying, that we trust and we pay this is their job – this is what they do all day, every day and they are telling us that this is a good bid and Mr. Conner said it was not and he was basing his information down in Matthews County and I wanted to see the facts and figures because I’ve thought about it and figure it up in my mind and I think this is a good price and my fear is that if we reject this tonight and go back to the drawing board your prices will be higher next time because everything goes up. I’ve never seen stuff like this go down. That’s my experience – maybe you know things come down more than I do – My fear is that if we are too afraid to act and put this wherever you deem appropriate that we will cost the
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people more money down the road. We know what we have right here $406,831 to do this part – waiting on the other alternates. You are taking a gamble – it could go down yes, but it could also go up. And that would be more of a historical way for it to go. For that reason, I am hesitant to let these numbers get away from us. I could be wrong – y’all could prove me wrong tomorrow. This is what I’ve observed.
Harvey – Mr. Garrett you stated that you don’t have a problem spending the money but you don’t like the design so if we go back to the drawing board after we agree to the equipment we are purchasing (you may be objecting to the price too). Do you still have an objection to buying the equipment as we bid it? Is there still an issue for you and Mrs. Spiggle?
Garrett – How many bids did we get on the playground equipment? Was it just 2?
Gillespie – It was 4
Garrett – I’m not counting Jamerson
Gillespie – Well 5 if you add Jamerson
Harvey – Carolina Recreation Design and Virginia Playground Equipment were disqualified because they didn’t put in the concrete pads under the pavilions. It was bid to the specs. They were not responsible bids.
Puckette – How can you say that you’re going to get a whole lot more bids in the next process? They have done the bidding process the same way they have always done it. I don’t know how or where a whole bunch more companies are going to come from that haven’t had the opportunity to see this ad. The bidding process was done like we’ve been told here tonight not some internet mess like we’ve been told.
Harvey – We aren’t making much progress here tonight.
Garrett – I’d like Proctor to look at the land and see how this whole thing can be revisited cause he may come up with something better than he has now. This thing isn’t going to happen…if we don’t vote tonight…
Harvey – If you don’t vote tonight, then this goes away
Garrett – well
Harvey – these bids, this price goes away tonight
Garrett – That’s fine – I just feel like it needs to be revisited by Proctor Harvey – along with the other property we are trying to buy.
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Harvey – The point we are trying to make is if we award the bid – you get the equipment and he can redesign it in a different way. You don’t agree with that?
Garrett – My 5th sense is telling me no. We aren’t going to get it put in even with good prices before spring of 2016 anyway.
Puckette – So you’re willing to take the gamble that the prices aren’t going to be more at a later time?
Harvey – Ask each one of you to say whether you are for it or against it and state your reason. This isn’t a vote. If we don’t have a consensus you’ll have to put the negative vote out there.
Garrett – No, because it needs to be revisited by the engineer and laid out on the property as stated and I think we can get a better price even if we have to rebid it. They might grant us the price they already gave us – who said they won’t?
Gillespie – They told me the will not give the same price.
Garrett – Fine – we will rebid the whole thing then.
Puckette – Why do you feel you’ll get a better price later?
Spiggle – Claudia – I think we are going one by one.
Harvey – She asked Mr. Garrett a question.
Spiggle – I though you said one by one.
Harvey – I did but let him answer – it’s a discussion. Mr. McDearmon will be next.
Garrett – I said may get a cheaper price. It will cost us either way. I don’t want to put something in that will cause it not to be a good park.
McDearmon – If we buy this equipment that we put bids in on now – it will probably not be put in until spring and by then shift it over to the new land if need be.
Garrett – This bid isn’t just buying the equipment – it’s also putting it in.
McDearmon – I can’t imagine it matters where you put it.
Spiggle – It’s bigger than just buying the equipment. Mr. Gillespie just said we can’t change the scope.
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McDearmon – I think we need to go ahead and buy the equipment and see where we want to put it on the 2 pieces of property in the spring. I just think we need to go ahead and get it at this price. I don’t think it’s going to come down.
Spiggle – I disagree. I agree with what Timmy says. I think this isn’t just about buying the equipment. The bid is about more than that – putting it in. So I think we can get a better price for putting it in and I think we need to ask Proctor Harvey (he didn’t even know we were going to buy this property) since we’ve engaged with him to look at it and so why are we in such a hurry to do this? I vote no.
Finch – At this point, I am for the park and getting it done. I do have a lot of questions and if there are this many questions during the process then it’s not a bad idea to have a rebid done.
Puckette – I am of the same opinion as Lewis – We have a good price I would like to see us secure the price. No one here has told me why the price isn’t good and that we can get another one. I don’t feel good about waiting to get a better one. That is typically not the way it works.
Harvey – Mr. Gillespie has been told that the prices will not be duplicated in a rebid.
Puckette – Costing the people money.
Harvey – Everyone has had opportunity to express their opinion. My feeling is that the discussion can end. Need to put a motion on the floor and vote whichever way you want to go.
On a motion by Mr. McDearmon, seconded by Mrs. Puckette, Council voted to accept the bid from MRS Recreation – Ashland, Virginia - $201,129 for the base bid, $50,992 for Alt #1, $145,860 for Alt #2, $8,400 for Tough Coat Surface for a total of $406,381.00. Alternates #3, 4 and 5 will be put together and done by the Town as part of completing the park. Roll call vote: Garrett – deny, McDearmon – accept, Spiggle – deny, Finch – deny, Puckette – accept, Conner – absent. Motion denied 3-2 to not pursue the bids as presented.
Puckette – What’s the next step Mr. Gillespie?
Gillespie – I don’t know. I need somebody to tell me what you want.
Garrett – I make a recommendation we get with Proctor and let him look at the additional piece of property and give us his input on what would make a better park or a good park – won’t say good because he did good to start with.
Puckette – It must not have been good enough.
Garrett – It’s not that – It’s just the lay of the land. You can’t look at it from right here. You need to go down there and visit it to see what I’m talking about.
Harvey – Are you making that into a motion Mr. Garrett?
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Garrett – Yes, I can make that into a motion.
On a motion by Mr. Garrett, seconded by Ms. Spiggle, Council voted to ask Proctor Harvey to reevaluate the project with the additional property and come back with a recommendation.
Harvey – Do you want to find out his fee first?
Gillespie – I think he is going to have to meet with someone first to find out what the scope will be first.
Mr. Garrett withdrew the motion, seconded by Ms. Spiggle
Mr. Gillespie will contact Proctor Harvey to explain where Council wants to go and have him draw up the scope.
Gillespie – It may be good for Council to meet with Proctor Harvey – I may be interpreting something incorrectly.
Harvey – Think we can get him [Proctor] here for the December meeting?
Gillespie – I will check with him [Proctor].
New Business -
On a motion by Mr. McDearmon, seconded by Mr. Garrett, Council voted to adopt a resolution amending the FY 2016 Operating Budget for the General Fund for FY 2015-2016 for the carry forward of funding of incomplete projects from FY 2015
WHEREAS, Section15.2-2507, Code of Virginia, allows that a governing body may amend the budget from time to time
- NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Appomattox Town Council does hereby
amend the FY 2016 Operating Budget for the General Fund for FY 2015-2016 for the carry forward of funding for incomplete projects
General Fund Expenditures Council (WaterPark) Property Maintenance & Construction (Sidewalks - $82,150, Town Hall Improvements -$35,000, Slurry Parking - $ 35,000, and Kiddie Park design - $16,103)
$ 35,000
Net Increase in Budget
168,253
$ 203,253
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General Fund Revenues
Use of Undesignated Reserve Net Increase in Budget
$ 203,253 $ 203,253
SECTION XIII: BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by the Town Council of Appomattox, Virginia that the Fiscal Year 2016 budget amendments are hereby adopted, and the monies necessary to fund it are hereby appropriated and shall be certified by the Clerk of Council and maintained as an archive document with the official minutes of the Town Council of Appomattox, Virginia. Amended this 9th day of November 2015. Attest:
Roxanne Casto, Town Clerk
VOTE: Garrett – yes, McDearmon – yes, Spiggle – yes, Finch – yes, Puckette – yes. Conner – absent. Motion carried 5-0.
On a motion by Ms. Spiggle, seconded by Mrs. Puckette, Council voted to award the Concrete Sidewalk Repair and/or Replacement Contract to C. Lee White Construction for $84.00/sq. ft., total cost of $162,150.00, with the work to be completed in the spring of 2016. Roll Call Vote: Garrett – yes, McDearmon – yes, Spiggle – yes, Finch – yes, Puckette – yes. Conner – absent. Motion carried 5-0.
Update from Appomattox County Schools regarding Fiber: Mr. Gillespie reported that he had a discussion with Mr. Arbogast and the goal is to provide fiber throughout the Town. Mr. Gillespie suggested forming an exploratory committee but the process has a long way to go.
Mr. Garett stated that right now they are getting the connection points through the schools.
(A written report was included with the agenda packet)
Update on the Meadowlark – CDBG project: Mr. Gillespie stated that the Town received information from the contract negotiations meetings held on October 13, 2015. All of the town’s requirements should be received by DHCD by January 4, 2016.
Update on the Appomattox Business District Revitalization Project (Downtown Business District): The Town of Appomattox has been notified that up to $25,000 is available to the Town for developing solutions that identify the needs in the Appomattox Business District Revitalization Project.
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Town Manager’s Report – none
Treasurer’s Report – Stacey Wilkes provided Council with highlights of each fund (General, Water & Sewer) revenues and expenditures through September 2015.
Citizen Comment Period – none
Council Concerns – none
On a motion by Mr. Garrett, seconded by Ms. Spiggle, Council voted to adjourn at 8:50 p.m. Vote: Garrett – yes, McDearmon – yes, Spiggle – yes, Finch – yes, Puckette – yes. Absent: Conner Motion carried 5-0.
Roxanne W. Casto, MMC Clerk
Paul D. Harvey Mayor