Franklin County commissioners approve traffic-enforcement grants, 911 switch replacement, bridge right-of-way work and liquor licenses

Franklin County commissioners voted unanimously to approve a package of county actions, including multiple traffic-enforcement grant applications for fiscal year 2026, a vendor quote to replace 9-1-1 tower switches, a supplemental agreement for right-of-way work on the Red Oak Road bridge project, authorization to dispose of certain records, and routine liquor-license items on the consent agenda.

The most costly grant approved was for a “dedicated impaired driving enforcement” campaign: the sheriff’s office’s application for $253,500 to compensate sheriff’s personnel for dedicated impaired-driving enforcement activity in fiscal 2026. Commissioners also approved a $44,800 impaired-driving enforcement grant and a $9,800 youth alcohol enforcement grant for the sheriff’s office. Separately, the county accepted a hazardous moving violation enforcement grant for $68,740 for 2026.

Those grants were presented and accepted by the board as applications authorizing the sheriff’s office to participate in the respective enforcement campaigns; each item was approved by motion and recorded as “ayes have it.” No roll-call vote totals for individual commissioners were recorded in the transcript; the board’s actions were recorded by voice vote with the chair announcing approval.

County staff described a separate procurement to replace communications equipment at 9-1-1 radio towers. “The switches at the towers have been in operation since we installed them in 2020,” said an emergency-communications staff member, who told commissioners the replacement is a budgeted maintenance item. The board accepted a quote from A and W Communications Inc. for the work at a cost of $17,281.20.

Commissioners also approved supplemental agreement No. 10A with Cochrane for professional engineering services on the Red Oak Road bridge replacement project. Jim, a county staff member, said the $11,200 agreement covers right-of-way acquisition work — permanent easements and construction easements — including appraisals and negotiations for four parcels owned by four different landowners. The board approved the agreement by motion.

On a routine matter, the board approved commission order 2025-48 authorizing disposal of certain state and local records. The consent agenda (commission order 2025-51) included three liquor-license approvals: Grama Catering, Silver Oaks Chateau and Saint Anne Church; the consent items were approved as presented.

All items listed were approved by motion and voice vote during the meeting; the transcript shows no amendments or dissent recorded during the deliberations. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.