Franklin City Council approves ordinance and several resolutions, sells 8.2-acre parcel to RepairTech

FRANKLIN, Va. — The Franklin City Council on July 22 approved multiple routine and project-linked items, including two proclamations recognizing parks-and-recreation efforts, an ordinance revising planning commission compensation language, a budget amendment tied to a Department of Social Services fatherhood grant, and the sale of an 8.2-acre city parcel to RepairTech.

The council unanimously moved to amend the agenda at the start of the meeting to add a closed session item to discuss hiring a future city manager. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The council adopted Resolution 2024-20 recognizing July as Parks and Recreation Month and Resolution 2024-21 proclaiming Parks and Recreation Professionals Day. Both resolutions cite parks and recreation’s role in promoting health, social connection and community resilience. The council read the resolutions aloud and approved them by voice vote.

Council also passed Ordinance 2024-O8, an amendment to chapter 2, article 3 of the city code to remove outdated language that had prohibited compensation for planning commission members. Interim city staff explained the change restores the council’s earlier decision to provide a meeting stipend to planning commissioners; the ordinance was approved by voice vote.

On finances, council approved Budget Amendment 2025-O1, which implements a fatherhood engagement grant administered through the Virginia Department of Social Services. The grant requires no local match and will fund programming such as free pool passes for participating fathers/father-figures and targeted activities; staff said the grant uses federal and state funding and will not be used for child-support arrears.

During the public hearing on a land sale, council voted to authorize sale of a partial parcel (listed as 69-01-042) — described in the meeting as roughly 8.2 acres — to RepairTech for an expansion to accommodate water-jet cutting equipment. RepairTech representatives said Route 258 access appears constrained and that site access will likely continue through Airport Road; city staff reported a figure of $66,000 per acre during discussion. The motion to approve the sale was seconded and carried by voice vote.

The meeting closed with a roll-call style affirmation to enter the added closed session on the hiring matter.

What’s next: items approved during the session will be carried out by the relevant city departments and referenced staff. The council moved into closed session to consider the hiring matter that prompted the agenda amendment.

Sources: Franklin City Council meeting transcript, July 22, 2024. Quotations and attributions are drawn from spoken remarks during the meeting.