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Franklin Board of Public Works and Safety approves routine contracts, grants and event permits
Summary
At its June 15 meeting the board approved an owner‑occupied rehab draw, a wastewater change order (net deduct $804.32), a surplus equipment sale to a fire district for $1,500, parade street closings, homecoming banners, a grant‑funded Veterans Alley sculpture, sewer repair work pending contract review, and an evaporation metering credit for Otterbein Franklin Senior Life Community.
The Board of Public Works and Safety on June 15 approved a series of routine items including housing rehabilitation payments, a modest change order at the wastewater treatment plant, an interlocal sale of surplus fire suits, event street closings, public‑art installation funding, a sewer‑line repair quote and a utility billing adjustment program.
Housing and grants: Krista (speaker 5) presented a draw for 301 West Jefferson under the Franklin owner‑occupied rehabilitation program and reported the program has averaged about $14,000 per home and completed 22 properties to date. The board approved the invoice for the completed work.
Wastewater and sewer work: Monty Dunn of Westland Engineering (speaker 4) explained a change order on the wastewater treatment plant that substitutes a pump manufacturer and alters sheet metal on the biosolids holding building; the net effect produced a deduct of $804.32, which the board approved. Later, Assistant Superintendent Ray Rooks (speaker 12) described a failing 10‑inch line under the railroad on Johnson Avenue and presented the only responsive quote from Inliner (described in the transcript as "$59.09" for the lining that will cross roughly 600 feet). City Attorney Lynn Gray (speaker 10) told the board a contract with required insurance and protections is still needed; the board authorized moving forward with the responsive quote contingent on the city attorney finalizing a contract.
Surplus property and events: Lynn Gray outlined an interlocal agreement allowing the sale of used fire equipment (fire suits and pants) to the fire protection district for $1,500; the board approved the interlocal. Fire Chief Josh Snyder (speaker 1) requested street closings for the Johnson County Fair Parade on July 18, and the board approved closures from about 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The board also approved Franklin College homecoming banners on King Street for October as presented.
Public art: Community development specialist Dana Monson (speaker 11) presented the final Veterans Alley sculpture (an American flag display with a history of flags and a 250th celebration seal). Monson said the project will be entirely grant‑funded — $25,000 from economic development commission fees and up to $50,000 from Festival Country Indiana — and will include backlighting. The board approved the installation; Monson said the contract will route through Festival Country and the city will pay its $25,000 portion upon completion.
Utility billing credit: Superintendent Sally Brown (speaker 8) described a program that credits sewer bills when customers can demonstrate evaporation loss from cooling loops. Steve Bingham (speaker 14) of Otterbein Franklin Senior Life Community explained their metering setup; staff said meters must be calibrated annually and monthly readings submitted to the billing office (Sherry). The board approved Otterbein’s participation; staff estimated one test case saved about $1,000.
Other business and reports: The board approved a list of unkept property liens and then heard department reports: parks staff (Chip, speaker 3) previewed Amphitheater events and a new laser show before Fourth of July fireworks; Krista summarized recent housing rehab closings; staff noted plan commission and redevelopment commission agendas for the coming days.
Several motions were approved by voice vote with little discussion; the sewer lining authorization was approved with the city attorney directed to finalize contract protections prior to execution.
