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Estill council approves $3,000 ARP lighting purchase, accepts CDBG waterline award; denies holiday-schedule change
Summary
At its Nov. 13 meeting the Town of Estill Council approved $3,000 in American Rescue Plan funds for holiday lighting, accepted a CDBG Notice of Award for a Phase Three waterline project, denied a proposed change to the employee holiday schedule, and learned Town Administrator Dr. T. Cooks will leave Jan. 13, 2025.
The Town of Estill Council on Nov. 13 approved an additional $3,000 from American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to buy lighting for the town’s Bull Durham display, accepted a CDBG Notice of Award for the Southwest Quadrant Waterline Improvement Project Phase Three, and voted down a proposed revision to the employees’ Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday schedule.
Councilman Joe N. Hadwin Jr. moved to authorize the $3,000 ARP expenditure for the Bull Durham lights; Mayor Pro Tem Tammy Solomon seconded and the motion passed 4-1. Councilwoman Dwanda Bolden cast the lone dissenting vote. Town Administrator Dr. T. Cooks told the council she had requested the additional funds as part of the town’s ‘‘Merry on the Main’’ event budget.
Dr. T. Cooks also informed the council that she has submitted her resignation and that Jan. 13, 2025, will be her last day as town administrator. In administrative updates she said the police department building funds remain in the town account and have not been spent, and she reported that debris pickup is nearly complete with volunteer assistance noted.
The council voted 2-3 against the proposed revision to the employee holiday schedule for Thanksgiving and Christmas; the motion to change the schedule therefore failed. The record does not specify who moved the holiday-schedule revision.
The council accepted the October 2024 income statement as information by a 5-0 vote. In other administrative matters, Dr. Cooks said the town is soliciting RFPs for garbage service after notice of a January rate increase from Wastepro and warned that any higher contract cost would likely be passed on to residents.
During public comment, resident Teresa Grimes thanked Public Works and Dr. Cooks and urged the community to ‘‘reflect on the common denominator as to why we cannot keep a Town Administrator’’ and to work together on solutions. The council then entered an executive session to consider a contract matter and, upon return, voted 5-0 to accept and sign the Notice of Award for the CDBG Southwest Quadrant Waterline Improvement Project Phase Three; that motion was offered by Councilman Hadwin and seconded by Councilwoman Bolden.
Dr. Cooks reminded council members that ARP funds must be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024, and announced a special called meeting on Nov. 20, 2024, asking members to submit ARP purchase lists in advance so she can consolidate them. The meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
What’s next: Council members will meet Nov. 20 to finalize ARP purchases; implementation of the CDBG waterline project will proceed under the Notice of Award process.
