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Franklin council moves funding for Riverwalk pavilion, accepts opioid-settlement payments and approves public-safety appropriation
Summary
The council approved an ordinance moving $29,975 for a Riverwalk kayak-launch payment, accepted a $24,900 community grant for an ADA pavilion, accepted $9,154 from the national opioid settlement, and approved allocations tied to a regional radio project and cemetery maintenance.
At its Aug. 25 meeting, the Franklin City Council approved several budget adjustments and grant acceptances that city staff said will support the Riverwalk park, cemetery maintenance and a regional public-safety radio project.
City Manager Oglesby told the council an ordinance would move $29,975 from the restricted general fund balance to the grants fund so Parks & Recreation could make a final payment for a kayak launch completed earlier in 2025. Oglesby said the funds are from the restricted portion identified in the FY23 audit and are not new revenue.
Council then accepted $24,900 from an "International Papers" community grant to support construction of an ADA-compliant multipurpose pavilion at the Riverwalk. Oglesby and councilors clarified that the motion accepted funds from the grant and did not by itself approve an additional spending ordinance beyond the appropriation already discussed.
On another item, the council adopted an ordinance to accept $9,154 from the national opioid settlement (listed in the agenda as payments from Allergan, CVS, certain distributors and Teva) and appropriate the funds into the general fund. Council also approved a $25,000 transfer from the cemetery perpetual fund for city cemetery operations and small capital projects.
For public safety, members voted to amend the FY26 operating budget to move $430,365 from restricted fund balance and accept $873,771 in reimbursement from Southampton County into the Capital Improvements Projects fund to cover the city's share of a regional radio project. Council said these restricted public-safety funds were identified in the FY23 audit.
Not all members were ready to move forward without further financial review. One council member asked how much the city will invest in the Riverwalk overall and another urged caution about spending while the city audit is not yet complete. Oglesby said she would provide additional figures later.
What happens next: The pavilion timeline and project matching requirements will proceed with the grant acceptance; the city will provide further financial details and audit updates to council to guide any additional spending approval.
