Franklin City Board of Works approves transportation grant, multiple contracts and equipment purchases

The Franklin City Board of Works on March 3 approved a package of routine and capital items, including a $18,500 contribution to support Johnson County’s public transportation service, multiple construction contract actions and purchases of heavy equipment for city operations.

The actions matter because they adjust how the city spends general-fund and restricted revenues on services that affect daily life — public safety, road maintenance, downtown events and stormwater compliance — and because officials noted some spending is vulnerable to potential changes at the state level in property-tax policy.

Mayor Barnett said the city’s annual budget is about $22,400,000 and that 69% of that funding goes to public safety. “We have no intentions of cutting public safety,” Barnett said while telling a public commenter the city would reassess discretionary contributions if state property-tax changes reduce revenue.

On formal business, the board authorized Finance staff to send the city’s previously budgeted $18,500 contribution for public transportation to Johnson County, which now contracts with the Access Johnson County service under a federal Department of Transportation arrangement. City attorney Lynn Gregg told the board Johnson County will consider accepting Franklin’s contribution at the county commissioners’ next meeting and noted the county contract is up for renewal next year; Gregg said federal funding changes could affect future contributions.

Parks Superintendent Chip Horner presented and the board approved three downtown street closures for 2025 Parks & Recreation events: the Cruisin’ the Amp event in June (West Court Street and a portion of Monroe), the July fireworks on Jackson Street and a fall festival using the West Court/ Jackson Street configuration. Horner said businesses directly adjacent to the closures will remain accessible and staff will coordinate with downtown businesses ahead of events.

Assistant City Engineer Matt McElroy told the board six bids were opened for the 2025 maintenance crack-sealing project and recommended award to Robertson Paving Inc. as the lowest, most responsive bidder. “We received six total bids for the project,” McElroy said; the engineer’s estimate was $224,127.75. The board approved the award and authorized the city to execute the construction agreement.

The board also approved change order No. 6 for the East Jefferson Street pedestrian facilities project. McElroy described the item as a final balancing change order that reduces contract costs by $50,842.20 and results in a net reduction of $41,712.49 after earlier change orders, lowering the final project cost to $1,110,228.16 from the original $1,151,940.65.

Two additional change orders for the active adult center were approved. McElroy said change order 11 (a credit for removing an air-louver component and related finish work) increases contract cost by $1,136.99 and change order 12 (work to reinforce beams and provide access to sprinklers) increases cost by $4,118. The board authorized the mayor to sign the change orders on the city’s behalf.

Senior Planner Joanna Tennell presented inspection and testing agreements, a special sanitary-sewer agreement and a performance bond for the Malarkey subdivision (south of Paul Hand Boulevard and west of the planned Essex extension). The board approved the documents; the performance-bond number read into the record was 30237866.

The board approved a right-of-entry to retire an unused lift station and force main near 1230 South State Street in the Wilson Overlook subdivision. Tennell said Red Fred Inc. (the property owner) executed the required entry agreement; Public Works superintendent Sally Brown said the work will be done in-house and “shouldn’t cost much, if anything.”

Street Commissioner and fleet manager Brett Jones explained two equipment purchases the board approved under Sourcewell cooperative contracts. Jones described the decision to buy a Bobcat telehandler and trade in an existing Case skid loader, saying higher lease costs and manufacturer leasing changes made purchase the more prudent option. “We’re currently paying, I think, $14,500 a year for about a $50,000 piece of equipment,” Jones said, explaining why leases had become less favorable; the telehandler purchase will be paid from NVH funds and the trade-in serial was recorded in fleet paperwork. The board also authorized purchase of an Elgin Regen X truck-mounted street sweeper through Sourcewell to be paid from the MS4 stormwater fund to help meet state MS4 curb-line sweeping requirements.

Director of Technology Rick Littleton presented a list of electronic equipment to be declared surplus; the board authorized disposal and recycling of the items Littleton said had “virtually no value to the city.”

In department reports, wastewater staff said ultraviolet disinfection season begins April 1 and staff are preparing equipment. City staff said they expect a notice to proceed soon for the US 301 project. Community development updates included a dumpster-enclosure RFQ and progress on the 650 Overstreet property, which planners said is drywall-complete and expected to be listed for sale in roughly six weeks. Parks staff said interior work at the active adult center is progressing rapidly; they expect a May completion window and said a grand-opening event could occur in 60 to 75 days.

Votes at a glance

- Transfer $18,500 to Johnson County for use with Access Johnson County: approved (voice vote). - Approve three street closures for Franklin Parks & Recreation 2025 events: approved (voice vote). - Accept bids and award 2025 crack-sealing contract to Robertson Paving Inc.: approved (voice vote). - Approve Change Order No. 6 (East Jefferson Street pedestrian facilities) — net reduction of $41,712.49; final cost $1,110,228.16: approved (voice vote). - Approve Change Orders 11 and 12 (Active Adult Center) and authorize mayor to sign: approved (voice vote). - Accept Malarkey inspection/testing agreements, sanitary sewer agreement and performance bond (No. 30237866): approved (voice vote). - Approve right-of-entry to retire lift station/forcemain at 1230 S. State St.; work in-house: approved (voice vote). - Purchase Bobcat telehandler via Sourcewell (trade in Case skid loader): approved (voice vote). - Purchase Elgin Regen X street sweeper via Sourcewell (paid from MS4 fund): approved (voice vote). - Declare listed electronic equipment as surplus for disposal/recycling: approved (voice vote).

The board met without contested roll-call votes on the listed items; motions were made, seconded and adopted by voice vote on each agenda item.