The Collinwood City Commission met in regular session on Monday, November 9th, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the conference/courtroom of Collinwood City Hall.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Glenn Brown. All commissioners were in attendance, including Vice Mayor Danny Sandusky, Commissioner Jeremiah Stults, Commissioner Debie Pigg, and Commissioner Butch Kephart. City Manager Gary Victory and City Recorder Cindy Kephart were in attendance as well.
Mayor Brown called the meeting to order, and following a moment of silence, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
First was the swearing in of the newly re-elected City Commissioners: Glenn Brown, Debie Pigg, and Jeremiah Stults. The three were re-elected to their seats in the November 3rd election.
Next was the appointment of Mayor and Vice Mayor. The commission unanimously appointed Glenn Brown to continue as Mayor, and Danny Sandusky to continue as Vice Mayor.
Approval of the agenda was next. A motion was made by Commissioner Pigg and seconded by Commissioner Stults to approve the agenda as presented, and the motion carried.
The next item on the agenda was the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting. Commissioner Stults made a motion and Commissioner Kephart seconded to approve the minutes, and they were unanimously approved.
Department reports were distributed to the commissioners for their review. Mayor Brown noted that there continues to be a low number of citations issued by the Police Department. Commissioner Pigg said that the smell from the sewer near the football field has seemed to be pretty bad lately, and Utility Director Ricky Bratton said that two major issues with the sewer department were recently fixed, which should help with the odor.
The county water line takeover was next on the agenda. Commissioner Kephart made a motion to table the issue for the time being. Vice Mayor Sandusky seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. The commissioners agreed that no final decision should be made on the city taking over the county water lines until further discussion with the County Commission and the County Water Board. The city has a difference of opinion with the County Commission on the county’s offer to pay the City of Collinwood the same amount as they will pay the City of Waynesboro for taking over water lines. Collinwood has more lines and more customers than Waynesboro, so Mayor Brown previously told County Executive Jim Mangubat that he felt the City of Collinwood should receive more compensation.
Next on the agenda was discussion of the city ordinance on property cleanups. City Manager Victory said that he had spoken with City Attorney Andy Yarbrough, who strongly suggested that the city find a way to enforce citations issued to property owners that order them to clean up their property themselves. Attorney Yarbrough said that it can be hard to recoup money from property owners after the city cleans up their property for them.
Next, Mayor Brown gave a report on the Wayne County Welcome Center for the month of October 2020. There were 1,396 visitors at the Welcome Center from 36 different states, and Volunteers of the Month were Steve and Sharon White.
Under “Other” on the agenda, Commissioner Stults said that he was aware that it seemed early to be talking about the City Pool for next year, but that some decisions would have to be made concerning the opening of the pool. City Manager Victory commented that the pool will most likely never make money for the city. Mayor Brown said that he felt that the City Pool should open back up again next year as long as the pandemic situation is better by then.
Commissioner Stults went on to say that there is a problem in the city with people blowing their leaves and grass into the road. Utility Director Bratton commented that it is actually illegal for people to do this.
Vice Mayor Sandusky asked next about the city’s Christmas lights. City Manager Victory said that the lights would be put up in plenty of time for the Christmas Parade, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 13th.
City Manager Victory said that a mini-grant project will be put on the agenda for next month’s commission meeting regarding possible grant funds that could be used to spruce up some of the buildings around town. He also said that he would be in a Zoom meeting on November 19th with the state aid office regarding CDBG grants.
City Manager Victory next told the commission that the new bucket truck is working out great.
Mayor Brown said that the commission may want to consider getting more than ten cross ties for the new railroad display that is to be set up in town. City Manager Victory said that ten cross ties should be enough if they are not placed too close together. Commissioner Pigg asked if there is a possibility of a railroad company donating some old, used cross ties for the project.
With no further business to come before the commission, Vice Mayor Sandusky made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Pigg seconded the motion, and the meeting was adjourned.
