Ben Worland, president of the Franklin Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council, and Marnie (Maddie) Moore, vice president, briefed the Franklin City Council and Franklin Community School Board on the council’s 2024 activities and 2025 plans. Worland said the group’s largest project last year was installing lights at the Youngs Creek pickleball courts; he credited Houston Electric, the City Council and Board of Works for support and called the installation “very successful.”

“We did have a pickleball tournament, which is very successful and it's just good to get the exposure and fundraising a little bit,” Worland said. He described additional annual activities including the Christmas Angels family sponsorship, a winter market and a chili supper at the Elk Club that the council used to gather community input for future projects. The council also painted a utility generator with imagery representing Franklin, which Worland said improved its appearance.

Moore said the group is forming smaller internal committees to tackle more frequent, lower-cost projects while continuing a larger annual project. She said the council held a retreat to onboard new members and planned a vote this week on the next large project.

Both student leaders thanked city staff and elected officials for logistical support and fundraising assistance. The mayor and council members invited the youth council to continue reporting to the joint meeting as projects develop.