Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Franklin County commission approves appointment and multiple engineering agreements, including three bridge supplementals
Summary
The Franklin County Commission on June 18 approved Commission Orders 2026-154 through 2026-160, including an appointment to the county transportation committee and supplemental engineering agreements with Cochran for three low‑water crossing/bridge projects; commissioners recorded at least one dissent during each vote.
The Franklin County Commission approved a set of routine orders on June 18, 2026, including an appointment and several supplemental engineering and construction contracts for bridge and low-water crossing projects.
Commission Order 2026-154 appointed Joyce Schaefer as an alternate member of the Franklin County Transportation Committee representing the village identified on the agenda; the motion passed after a verbal dissent was recorded.
Commission Orders 2026-156, 2026-157 and 2026-158 authorized supplemental agreements with Cochran for professional engineering services on the Bemont Leo, Dry Branch and Gibson Creek low-water crossing replacement and new bridge projects, respectively. Staff explained the supplemental agreements cover right-of-way acquisition and negotiation work that typically follows MDOT and East West Gateway approval of final plans. Commissioner Jim asked staff to review whether any deliverables listed in the supplemental agreements duplicate work already completed under design contracts; staff said the supplemental is focused on acquisition and negotiation rather than initial plan creation and agreed to review and walk through the process with the commissioner.
Commission Order 2026-159 authorized execution of a contract and bond (project number 05907) for construction of the St. John's Creek low-water crossing replacement. The commission also approved Commission Order 2026-155 (refund of overflow land sale back taxes to Jennifer Lindmire) and 2026-160 (consent agenda including building-department fees for May).
Each of these items was moved, seconded and recorded as carrying despite at least one stated opposition. The transcript does not provide a roll-call tally or the names of mover/second for each motion in every instance; votes were recorded by voice with a verbal dissent noted during several approvals.
Staff noted that the larger bridge projects were originally approved by MODOT in 2023 and that typical bridge delivery from inception to completion can take five to six years. The supplemental agreements with Cochran were described as routine steps to support right-of-way acquisition once final plans and the PS&E process are complete.
The commission moved from these items into the public comment period and later adjourned the meeting.
