Franklin Economic Development Commission reviews strategic-plan draft, business-awards logistics and approves $1,500 voucher

The Franklin Economic Development Commission met in early 2025 and was told the commission's consultant will present a full strategic plan and outline at the commission's February meeting. The commission also reviewed its business appreciation celebration — discussing nominees, possible mayoral recognition, venue options and timing — and approved a $1,500 voucher for Brooks Communications to be paid from last year’s budget. The commission entered a closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e) to discuss potential commercial and industrial developments.

Commissioners began by confirming that a consultant will convert the existing discussion draft into a full report and plan outline and will present that material at the commission’s February meeting. The commission discussed that the completed plan should include tasks and assignments to achieve stated objectives; no formal vote was taken on the plan at this meeting. The record shows commissioners expected to review the consultant’s full deliverable when it is presented next month.

On the business appreciation celebration, commissioners reviewed the prior year’s event and attendee numbers (the clerk reported about 109 reservations and an estimated attendance near 100). Discussion items included whether to resume in-depth interviews of nominees, how to solicit more community nominations, whether to include a mayor’s special recognition award in addition to the commission’s awards, and which venue to use. Commissioners mentioned venues used previously (the police center, Ascension Hospital meeting space and other local facilities), and discussed moving the event from the busy fall season into the first quarter (January–April) to avoid conflicts with year-end project deadlines. One commissioner suggested aiming for late winter or early spring; another suggested the third week of a chosen month to avoid conflicts with the South Suburban Chamber’s February gala. No formal decision was made at this meeting about the award process, venues or the event date; commissioners asked staff to prepare options and to start the nomination-and-interview process earlier next year.

Procedural and fiscal actions included a unanimous voice approval to adopt the minutes from the Dec. 10, 2024 meeting, a unanimous vote to approve a $1,500 voucher for Brooks Communications with payment to be drawn from the prior fiscal year’s budget, and a unanimous voice vote to enter closed session under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(e) for market-competition reasons to deliberate potential commercial and industrial developments. The meeting record shows the commission planned to return to open session at the same location but no public action resulting from the closed session was recorded in the transcript.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (Dec. 10, 2024): Motion made and seconded; voice vote, unanimous among those present. (See actions array for procedural detail.) - Closed session: Motion made and seconded to enter closed session under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(e); voice vote, unanimous among those present. The closed session was for market-competition reasons to deliberate potential commercial/industrial developments. - Voucher approval: Motion to approve a $1,500 voucher to Brooks Communications, seconded; voice vote, unanimous among those present. The voucher was described as for work completed last year (research, layout); staff said payment can be taken from last year’s budget.

What happened next The commission set its next regular meeting for Feb. 21 and noted the business appreciation celebration would occur the day before that event. After the formal adjournment, commissioners and organizers prepared for photographs.

(Reporters: This article summarizes discussion and formal actions recorded in the commission transcript. Where specific speaker attribution was not given in the transcript, statements are reported as commission discussion or staff report.)