Committee advances logistics for July celebration: DPW leveling, bingo option and volunteer sign-up plans

At the March 26 special meeting of the Franklin Civic Celebration Committee, Chair John Bergner said the Department of Public Works will “put dirt and sand” to level the area under the festival tent once conditions allow, while maintaining required drainage slopes.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the scope of the work, specifically whether leveling applies to the stage area or the whole tent footprint; Bergner replied the DPW plan covers all areas under the tent. The committee recorded that DPW work is contingent on ground-drying conditions and did not set a firm start date.

Members also debated a proposed bingo night as an additional entertainment offering. Bergner reported speaking with Maddie's Bar and Grill, which runs a well-attended Monday-night bingo; the committee discussed running “granny bingo” or music bingo with free cards and prizes (no paid cards) and considered site options (main tent vs. band shell). A member noted Maddie's is booked for July 3, and the committee discussed Mulligan as an alternative vendor for equipment and prize sponsorship.

On volunteer coordination, committee members agreed to use SignUpGenius to collect volunteer contact details, t-shirt sizes and age/eligibility for certain roles (21+ for beer tent), and to keep volunteer shirts separate from sales inventory. Bergner confirmed tickets have been picked up and reiterated that the newsletter, schedule and donation letters must be ready to distribute prior to the next meeting.

The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn was seconded and passed by voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.