Council approves JC Fiber sponsorship for amphitheater Wi‑Fi; also introduces small police grant and renews disclosure service

The Franklin City Council on April 6 authorized a sponsorship agreement with JC Fiber to install secure Wi‑Fi at the city's amphitheater, and during the meeting also introduced a police grant and approved an ongoing disclosure service renewal.

Council members said the JC Fiber installation is intended to provide a secure vendor network and public Wi‑Fi in the amphitheater area, green room and maintenance building. The board of works had approved an attachment agreement allowing JC Fiber to place equipment on city buildings and recommended a sponsorship arrangement. Council described the financial terms as a one‑time $2,500 installation fee, a $500 monthly vendor user fee expected to be paid by vendors, and equipment valued in the record at roughly $27,800 that would be waived in exchange for a $25,000 sponsorship structured as $5,000 per year over five years. Council authorized the mayor to sign the sponsorship agreement.

Chief Cochran introduced an annual grant from Drug‑Free Johnson County intended for covert equipment and narcotics investigations, telling the council the grant amount is $6,143 and asking that the funds be appropriated; the item was introduced and council discussed advertising and ordinance requirements for budgetary approval.

Clerk/Treasurer Jan Jones explained the annual renewal of the continuing disclosure service agreement with Baker Tilly, which handles bond reporting; council moved and approved the renewal and noted there was no price change since 2021.

During council comments Addie Jeffrey of the mayor's youth council promoted the youth group's upcoming fundraiser 'Pets on the Trail' on April 26 and said the youth council had helped advance the amphitheater Wi‑Fi project over several years.