Lebanon Town Council Called Meeting Town Hall, Lebanon, Virginia Thursday, May 20, 2021 3:001 P.M.  Council Members Present:  Nelson A. "Tony" Dodi, Mayor DeAnna C. Jackson, Vice-Mayor A. Doyle Fields, Council Member Scott. J. Gilmer, Council Member M. ElijahLeonard, Council Member Mary J. Stanley, Council Member W. Bradley Lambert, Council Member Kevin L. Blankenship, Town Manager Beverly Stinson, Financial Officer Diane Nunley, Clerk of Council Kevin D. Tiller, Town Attorney  Council Members Absent: Staff Members Present:  Staff Members Absent:  I. II. III. IV.  The meeting was called to order by Mayor Dodi.  Prayer: Mr. Blankenship Pledge of Allegiance Items for Discussion  Grant for the Police Department Body Cams  Mayor Dodi advised that the council received an email from Chief Desking regarding the Police Department Body Cameras. It appears that the Town is required to have a 50/50 match of $4,700 in cash. Chief Deskins advised that in previous DCJS Grants the' Town was allowed to Upon motion made by Mr. Gilmer, seconded by Mr. Leonard, the Town Council unanimously voted to approve the DCJS Grant for Police Department Body Cameras using a cash match in the amount of $4,700.00. The vote was as follows: Ms. Jackson, Aye; Mr. Fields, Aye; Mr. Gilmer,  use Police Officers Salary or other purchases.  Aye; Mr. Leonard, Aye. Cigarette Tax Ordinance  Mayor Dodi presented a Cigarette Tax Ordinance that was prepared by Kevin Tiller for the Town Council approval. Mayor Dodi advised that the Town must have aj public hearing before they can pass the Cigarette Tax Ordinance. Mr. Blankenship advised that he would reach out to Lonzo Lester with the County to receive information concerning the steps plus information to    reach out to the Tobacco Distributors. Mayor Dodi requested Ms. Halsey prepare as ift the  ordinance was passed to get everything inj place with the cigarette tax.  Lonzo Lester Request  Mayor Dodi advised that Lonzo Lester requested the Lebanon Fire Department for their tax return document which the Lebanon Fire Department is nonprofit organization that doesn'tfilea tax return. Mayor Dodi advised Mr. Blankenship to reach out tol Mr. Lester to see what  information he is requesting. Sykes Property  Mr. Leonard advised that the Sykes Property on Colony Park was a nuisance property last year which the Town Employees mowed twice. The fees incurred by the Town for mowing the property should have been added to their 2020 Real Estate Tax Bill but Ms. Carrier the Utility Billing Clerk, could not figure out how to add the amount to their tax bill in the AccuFund system. Mr. Leonard advised that Mr. Blankenship spoke with Ms. Sykes concerning the nuisance issue with her property, she stated that she had noi intentions of mowing her property when the property sold the new owner could take care oft the issue. The Town Council discussed the issue. The Town Council agreed to proceed with the legal process on the Sykes Property. Mr. Gilmer advised that Chris Pritt requested that Mr. Blankenship pursue with the Virginia Clean Water Financing Assistant program through DEQ. Mr. Blankenship advised that DEQ has aj program that started last year. The program would cover 75% of the cost of repairs or improvements to the Wastewater Plant. Mr. Blankenship advised that Cumberland Plateau agreed to cover the remaining 25% of the cost. The opening date for the application is. June 1,  2021.  2021-2022 Budget Workshop  Mr. Gilmer presented the 2021-2022 Budget documents to discuss. He advised that as of now the Budget is over $427,064.44. He stated that his goal is today tol have it under Budget. Therefore, this will allow Ms. Stinson toj place the excess funds in capital savings or capital funds; allow the budget to be balanced and be able to get the budget plus the public hearing advertised in next Mr. Gilmer suggested that on the Capital Outlay in each department the Town Council make a decision to cut, hold ori include. On the hold items if there are funds left then include them back in the budget. The Town Council agreed to cut the $40,000 in Capital Outlay for the Fire Department. On the Police Department budget, Mr. Gilmer suggested cutting the Investigations Expense to! $5,000. He stated that Chief Deskins suggested selling the Investigation Van because the County and the State both have Investigation Vans that the Town can utilize. The Town Council agreed to hold the $75,000 for Radios in Capital Outlay for the Police Department Mr. Gilmer advised that in Capital Outlay for the Town Street Department there is $22,000 for two new Lawn Mowers. The Town Council agreed to keep the $22,000 in Capital Outlay for the  week Lebanon News.  Budget.  Town Street Department.    Mr. Gilmer advised that in Capital Outlay for the Sanitation Budget there is $14,000 for Roll Off Dumpsters plus another $14,000 listed as an expenditure item for dumpsters. The Town Council agreed to keep the $14,000 in Capital Outlay for the Sanitation Department Budget. Mr. Gilmer advised that in Capital Outlay for the Parks and Recreation Department Budget there is $15,000 for trash cans, $47,160 for bathrooms at the J.S. Easterly Park and $180,000 for ballfield lighting. The Town Council agreed to change the purposed Computer Software and Equipment amount to $2,500, change the Capital Outlay for Trash Cans amount to $3,000, hold the $47,160 for the Bathroom at the. J.S. Easterly to see if the Town receives additional relief Mr. Gilmer discussed the $10,000 in Capital Outlay in the Pool Budget. The Town Council agreed to keep the $10,000 for Pool Furniture in Capital Outlay for the Pool Budget. Mr. Gilmer advised that he personally requested $100,000 for Construction in the Russell Theater Budget for the Town of Lebanon's 20% match for the ARC Grant. Mr. Gilmer discussed the $20,000 in Capital Outlay in each the Water Maintenance Department and the Sewer Maintenance Department budgets. Mr. Blankenship advised that this amount ist to purchase one truck for the amount of $40,000 tol be used by both departments. The Town Council agreed to keep the $20,000 in Capital Outlay for each the Water Maintenance  funds and cut the $180,000 for Ballfield Lighting.  Department and the Sewer Maintenance Department budgets.  Mr. Gilmer discussed the $20,000 in Capital Outlay for the possible loss of al Reduction Pump for the Water Plant Budget. The Town Council agreed to keep the $20,000 in Capital Outlay for Mr. Gilmer discussed the $20,000 in Capital Outlay for the possible loss/incident with equipment and $175,000 for Plant updates for the Wastewater Plant Budget. The Town Council agreed to keep the $20,000 for the possible loss/incident with equipment and change the amount to $80,000 for Plant updates in the Capital Outlay for the Wastewater Plant Budget.  the Water Plant Budget for possible loss of a Reduction Pump.  V. VI. VII.  Recess: 4:30P.M. Resume: 4:40P.M.  Ms. Stinson presented an update on the 2021-2022 Budget. The total cut amount is $405,000 and the total hold amount is $162,160. These items bring the budget to aj positive of  $140,095.56.  Mr. Gilmer requested to review the Town ofl Lebanon's Donation List for the 2021-2022 Budget. The Town Council agreed to donate to the Lebanon Rescue Squad $22,000, Lebanon Lions Club $15,000, Russell County Library $3,000, Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department $2,220, Chamber of Commerce $2,000, Master Gardeners Program $1,500, cut the donation to the VFW and utilize the Veterans Account, Russell County Health Fair $250, SVCC Festival of the. Arts $350, Heart of Appalachia $1,250, Farm to' Table $500 for music, Russell County Fair Association $5,000. Mr. Gilmer suggested to place the hold excess amount in Capital Project and Capital Savings for the budget and make a decision on some of those items as the Town receives more  information.    Mr. Gilmer advised that after viewing the Davenport & Company analysis that was back in October 2018, he became aware of the need toi increase the water and sewer rates. Mr. Gilmer suggested to increase the water rate by $2 which will make it $17, increase the sewer rate by $2 which will make it $18, change the garbage rate to $8 and increase the tier rate by $.25 which would make it $4.25 and $4.60. This would increase the base flat rate about $4.30. He stated that he would like an annually increase to the utility accounts of5 54 1%. The Town Council agreed for Ms. Stinson to add in the Budget the increase oft the water and sewer rates and the Town Council will vote separate on the budget and the utility increase amount.  VIII. Adjourn: 5:401 P.M.  Upon motion made by Mr. Fields, seconded by Mr. Leonard, the Town Council unanimously voted to adjourn. The vote was as follows: Ms. Jackson, Aye; Mr. Fields, Aye; Mr. Gilmer,  Aye; Mr. Leonard, Aye.  Omdlia Glaw A. Diane Nunley, Clerk of Council  Nelson "Tony" Dodi, Mayor 2xSa  Minutes recorded by: A. Diane Nunley, Clerk of Council Minutes prepared by: A. Diane Nunley, Clerk of Council