Turn The Street Lights Off in 2011 & Pay for the Glenavy Sewer Project

The Council Meeting was a very long and intense meeting. Several resolutions were passed in the beginning. I presented quite a list of important and challenging problems that must be solved in order for the Village Government to properly represent the citizens of Lynchburg and to dig out of the mess that has been inherited. I was reminded after the meeting that each of these challenges our opportunities to provide for a brighter future. Each of these items are the responsibility of the local government to look into and in fact it would be irresponsible if action is not taken immediately and the projected negative outcomes occur. These outcomes are higher utilities, higher taxes, and less services to the community. A couple council members even said shut off the street lights when the contract is up in 2011. There will be a Special Council Meeting to work on hand full of these Items next Tuesday at 6PM. The focus will be the budget, more specifically The New WWTP debt repayment and the Glenavy Subdivision Sewerage project debt repayment. Below is a copy of my presentation, which is in an outline format, however the basic idea is probably understood. I projected as clear as I can that I need the assistance of the Council Members and Community to get things done. There are many important problems that have to be addressed, most importantly the growing budget concerns. Budget Numbers for income our becoming available that are accurate, and it is very scary. We have halted a fiscal emergency for now, however it is still on the horizon if we do not make some hard choices and investigate the options so that we continue tho understand the problems and turn those into Opportunities for the future.

The outline below carried much discussion about how we got were we are. The different options available and costs associated with each. Each of the topics will have more discussion in the near future, and will be in depth.


Serious Problems that are Our Responsibility to Address immediately

Long Term Budget:
Law Enforcement (How do we pay for it!)
Streetlight(s) (How do we pay for it!)
Glenavy Sewer Project (How do we pay for it!)
WWTP Phase one & two (How do we pay for it!)
Old Wastewater System Debt (How do we pay for it!)
Park Mowing (How do we Pay for It!)
Council, Mayor, Fiscal Officer (How do we Pay for it)
Cemetery Maintenance (How do we Pay for it)

Capital Improvements on the Table:
Glenavy Water Loop (Phase Three)
Glenavy Sewer Project
WWTP Phase one
WWTP Phase two

Drainage:
How do we repair the water run off in Glenavy?
How do we repair Storm drainage backup on Pearl Street, next to Methodist Church?
How do we repair water run off on South Broadway?
Where do we start when opening up and repairing old storm drain system?

Street
What is the maintenance plan?
What is the street upgrade ( Capital Improvement) plan?
Do we have a long term streetlight replacement plan? (Solar)

Development
Infrastructure Development
Nature / Park Development
Economic Development
What do we need? (Dave Alpern Reported twice on the Needs through community Open Houses and investigating and a comprehensive plan draft,,(where are we)…)
How are we going to get it?
How are we going to clean up downtown?
How are we going to grow business, MFG, Dist, Retail? Tefabco MFG
Comprehensive Plan…..?!!!

Infrastructure:
Water Needs Assessment?
Sewerage Needs Assessment?

Grants and Appropriations - Needs
Infrastructure?
Marketing Study?
Natural Disaster Plan!
Cost Study?
Advertising Study?
Affects?

Ordinances, Resolutions, and General Legislation……
What do you want to change?
What do you want to make better?
Have you made a difference as an elected official?

Problems My Office heard since the Last Council Meeting!
Cat Problem!
Dog Problem!
Possum and raccoons!!
Alleys!!!
Green Space!!!
Heating and A/C Problem at Municipal Building!
People not taking care of Pets!!
Children running the Streets after dark!
People Soliciting Door to Door!
Trees rotting and falling!
Tree Maintenance!
Speed Limits!
Vehicles squealing wheels and loud radios!!
Stop Signs!
Obstruction of Safety Devices!
Drainage, Flooding!
Speeding Ticket!
Parking!
Maintaining Village Buildings!!!
Sewer Backup!!!
Falling down buildings!
Falling down Homes!!
Sidewalks!!
Grocery Store!!
Cemetery Maintenance, Cemetery Vandalism!
Street Lighting!
Sex Offenders not registered Correctly!
Roads Falling Apart!
Right of Way Problems!
Is Demmy Construction fixing Glenavy or the Village repairing, when? What is getting fixed?
People not mowing and maintaining property!
Utility Invoicing complaints!!
U turns, and driving on the wrong side of the street!!
Mosquitoes!!!!
RESPONSIBILITY!!!!


I can not do this on My Own, I need your help. This is a team effort. Specifically what do you want me to do within my Power as Mayor under the O.R.C., I need the help of Council because they hold the legislative power and authority to appropriate.

Important:
Identify Problems
Plan Solutions
Implement

To Better Inform and Communicate

I have found it hard to find the right tool to flow information easily to the community. There are many devices which I use and many of you may be familiar with those. I send regular articles to the local media, write a newsletter article once a month, send out information by way of email. Still it seems that the daily activities are not logged easily to keep people up to date and informed or at least not as much as I would like for the bar I have rasied. Part of this is due to the fact that the amount of information is overwhelming to me at times, as you may know I do not have a staff in my office, after all it is a small town. Part of it is I try to tackle what is important at the time, and what I can handle, so things are prioritized and put on hold. I came to the realization I can not do everything, even though I would like to, there is not enough time. Lastly, I do not always know what is going on with different parts of the organization all the time. Each department is carrying out a different mission, and they work under their own set of rules and regulations. I may have influence over the departments as Mayor, however when things run smooth, I usually do not hear anything. The Departments of the Village Government are as follows, Wastewater, Water, Law Enforcement (Police), Fiscal Officer, Utilities Clerk, Mayors Court. Currently there is not a street department, however the Village Council does contract maintenance foe streets. The legislature is the Council which is made up of six elected officials, which are broken down into working commitees. At this time the Village government only has 8 employees that are paid for their time or service. Three of which are appointed, which are the Fiscal Officer, Mayors Court Clerk, Magistrate. The other employees are the Utilities Clerk, two Police Officers, Water and Wastwater Supervisors. The Village operates it's Utilities and Service with very minimal staff. This is due largely to budget constraints, however there is an efficiency created by having a small and quality workforce.
I will attempt to use this blog to send information on thoughts and progress of activities as I know about them. Please bear with me, I may not post everyday.