Drakes Branch public meetings in 2021

Town Council

The Farmville Town Council will hold public hearings on election procedures and alley abandonments. The council is also scheduled to vote on a water meter installation for Three Roads Brewing Company. Additionally, the meeting includes discussions regarding ARPA funds and a vacancy on the Board of Zoning Appeals.

• Ordinance No. 207 regarding Mayor and Town Council elections
• Ordinance No. 208 for water meter installation at Three Roads Brewing Company
• Abandonment of alleys on South Virginia Street, Hill Street, and First Avenue
• Citizen input for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds
• Discussion of a vacancy on the Board of Zoning Appeals

The Farmville Town Council approved several resolutions and ordinances, including salary increases for police officers and public works employees, a water meter installation for Three Roads Brewing Company, and the abandonment of two alleys. The council also adopted an ordinance aligning municipal elections with November general elections and allocated funds for wayfinding signage.

• Adopted Resolution 2021-12-01 to increase police officer hiring salary to $45,011.20, provide 17.7% raises for current officers under that amount, and give $1,000 retention bonuses to higher-paid sworn officers (7-0)
• Adopted Resolution 2021-12-02 to increase public works Laborer I hiring salary to $12.50/hour and Laborer II to $14.56/hour, with raises for current employees (7-0)
• Adopted Ordinance 208 permitting Three Roads Brewing Company to install a water meter to adjust sewer billing (7-0)
• Adopted Ordinance 207 moving municipal elections to November, with terms adjusted accordingly (7-0)
• Adopted Resolution 2021-12-03 allocating up to $29,000 for wayfinding signage (7-0)
• Adopted Resolution 2021-12-04 to vacate and convey alleys between 500/600 blocks of South Virginia Street and South Bridge Street (7-0)
• Adopted Resolution 2021-12-05 to vacate and convey alley between 800 blocks of First Avenue and Hill Street (7-0)
• Approved consent agenda and treasurer's report (7-0)

Town Council

The Farmville Town Council will hold a work session to discuss salaries and wages for the Public Works and Police Departments. The agenda also includes a request for street closure and recognition of an employee's 25th anniversary.

• Recognition of Bobby Wise’s 25th anniversary
• Request for street closure
• Discussion of Public Works and Police Department salaries and wages
• Discussion of Council committees

Town Council

The Farmville Town Council will hold a public hearing regarding a budget amendment. The council will also consider adopting an emergency operations plan and discussing water/sewer bill adjustments.

• Public hearing for Budget Amendment Resolution No. 2021-11-01
• Adoption of the Town of Farmville Emergency Operations Plan
• Letter of Intent with AC Power, Inc.
• Contract with Stratified, Inc.
• Lease with Habitat for Humanity

The Farmville Town Council approved a budget amendment transferring $1,209,294.37 in surplus funds from FY2020-2021 to the FY2021-2022 budget, increasing the total budget to $23,521,490.72. The council also adopted the updated Emergency Operations Plan, authorized the Town Manager to sign a letter of intent with AC Power, LLC for a solar project at the old landfill, and approved a contract with Stratified, Inc. for Confederate Monument relocation. Additionally, the council approved a lease with Habitat for Humanity for storage space and a water/sewer bill adjustment for Appomattox River Company.

• Adopted Resolution 2021-11-01 transferring $1,209,294.37 surplus to FY2022 budget (7-0)
• Adopted Emergency Operations Plan (7-0)
• Authorized Town Manager to sign letter of intent with AC Power, LLC for solar project (7-0)
• Authorized Town Manager to sign contract with Stratified, Inc. for monument relocation (7-0)
• Approved lease with Habitat for Humanity for storage (6-0, 1 abstention)
• Approved water/sewer bill adjustment for Appomattox River Company (6-0, 1 abstention)
• Approved funds for paving parking lots on Peery Drive and adjacent to Fishin' Pig (7-0)

Town Council

The Town Council will hold a work session to discuss the relocation of a Confederate monument. The council will also discuss a solar project request for proposals and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

• Confederate monument relocation discussion
• Solar project Request for Proposals
• American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds discussion

The Farmville Town Council held a work session with no formal votes or decisions. They discussed relocating the Confederate monument (lowest bid $46,000 from Stratified, Inc.), a solar project at the old landfill (moving forward with AC Power, LLC), and ARPA fund allocation (about $4M this year, $4M next year). Council agreed to hold a public hearing on ARPA funds and to include information in water bills.

• Agreed to hold a public hearing on ARPA fund allocation
• Agreed to include ARPA information in water bills
• Discussed Confederate monument relocation (no decision)
• Discussed solar project RFP (no decision)

Town Council

The Farmville Town Council will consider an employment agreement for a new clerk and a resolution for Centra Health, Inc. The council also plans to discuss vacant town positions, salary increases, and the town's employment handbook.

• Approval of employment agreement for new clerk
• Adoption of resolution for Centra Health, Inc.
• Discussion on vacant town positions and wage/salary increases
• Discussion on town employment policies and procedures handbook
• Discussion regarding Howard Family water/sewer discount request

The Farmville Town Council approved a resolution supporting Centra Health's $275M bond refinancing, approved an employment agreement for new Clerk Mary McKay, adopted the updated Employment Policies and Procedures Handbook, and extended COVID-19 leave for employees. Council also approved a $275.41 water/sewer credit for the Howard family and allowed trick-or-treating on October 31. No action was taken on wage increases for vacant positions, with discussion continuing.

• Approved Centra Health bond resolution (7-0)
• Approved employment agreement for new Clerk Mary McKay (7-0)
• Adopted updated Employment Policies and Procedures Handbook (7-0)
• Approved $275.41 water/sewer credit for Howard family (7-0)
• Allowed trick-or-treating on Oct 31, 2021 (7-0)
• Extended COVID-19 leave for employees through early 2022 (7-0)
• Approved consent agenda and treasurer's report (7-0)
• Held closed session on Town Building Official position (7-0)

Town Council

The Town Council will hold a work session to discuss funding for wage and salary increases and address vacant town positions. The meeting also includes reports from the Town Manager and staff.

• Discussion regarding vacant town positions and funding for wage/salary increases
• Closed session regarding personnel matters

The Farmville Town Council held a work session on October 6, 2021, where no formal decisions were made. The Town Manager discussed potential wage and salary increases to remain competitive, including raising uncertified police officer pay to $44,000-$45,000 and a minimum of $15 per hour for Public Works positions. The Council also held a closed session to interview for the Clerk of Council position and discuss economic incentives for the former Ruby Tuesday building.

• No formal decisions made at work session
• Held closed session for Clerk of Council interviews and economic incentives discussion (5-0)