Franklin County Legislature approves jail renovations, bridge rehab and highway equipment purchases

The Franklin County Legislature voted June 1 and June 15 to advance several infrastructure and equipment projects, approving a jail renovation capital project, bridge rehabilitation contracts and budget amendments to buy highway equipment.

The Legislature established Capital Project #8 to fund Phase I renovations of the Franklin County Jail and amended the 2017 budget to appropriate $252,100 from fund balance/mortgage tax reserve for that work. Chairwoman Barbara Rice called the special meeting that approved the measure and the resolution was adopted unanimously.

Separately, the Legislature accepted the lowest responsible bid for rehabilitation of the Lane Street bridge (BIN 3336900) and County Route 25 over Salmon River (BIN 3338090). The engineering firm recommended awarding Contract No. 1 to Friend Commercial Contracting for an amount not to exceed $1,469,725. The contract award was approved unanimously.

On June 1 the Public Works & Services Committee also secured approval to amend the county 2017 budget to allow purchases for the Highway Department, authorizing the purchase of a snow plow ($183,685), a roller ($128,813) and a rotary mower head ($9,890) with transfers from contingency and diesel fuel accounts. The Legislature also authorized the Highway Superintendent to enter contracts with several towns for roadside mowing this summer; the towns will supply equipment and perform the work under terms to be outlined in contract documents.

The Legislature created Capital Project #9 to fund parking-lot and sidewalk expansion at the Social Services building, appropriating $20,000 from mortgage tax reserve. All measures were adopted unanimously.

The next procedural steps include engineering and contracting work on the bridge project and the County Manager, with County Attorney review, finalizing vendor contracts and project budgets. No construction start dates were specified in the meeting record.