Franklin City Council approves sale of parkland to Warren County, donation-box rules and budget adjustments

Vice Mayor Carl Bray presided over the Franklin City Council’s June 19 meeting, which included a string of adopted ordinances and resolutions affecting land use, code enforcement and the city’s 2017 budget.

City Manager Lewis told council the roughly 40-acre parcel at Eichholz Park was donated to the city in the 1980s and that Warren County has requested purchase of the remaining 35.171 acres to site a water-treatment facility. After a brief public hearing and no public comment, Council member Hall moved to adopt Ordinance 2017-09 authorizing the sale; the motion passed with one no vote from Council member Ruppert.

The council also adopted Ordinance 2017-10 to regulate privately owned donation boxes located on business properties. City Manager Lewis said the measure requires a permit and assigns responsibility for unlicensed boxes; staff member Fisher clarified the fee structure at the hearing, saying the upfront fee is $120 and the ongoing charge is $10 per month, and that the city may assess a $250 administrative penalty if it must clean up a site. “This will help clean up the City,” Council member Fouts said during deliberations.

On street lighting, City Manager Lewis described Ordinance 2017-11 as step two of a three-step process to proceed with street-lighting improvements for 2018; with no public objections council adopted the ordinance.

Council approved Resolution 2017-35, the annual tax budget for 2018, after Finance Director Ervin said the document must be submitted to the Warren County Auditor by July 20 and that staff is working to improve revenue forecasting to reduce large carry-over balances. The meeting also included an emergency amendment to the 2017 appropriation ordinance (Ordinance 2017-12) to adjust several funds after higher-than-expected audit costs and other needs: General Fund audit costs +$4,550; Fire & EMS Levy Fund +$500; Joint Recreation Fund +$30,000 (contingency for the pool); Sewer Fund +$700; and Building Standards Fund +$500.

Council adopted Resolution 2017-36 to set pay for employees serving 30 days or more as Acting Director of Finance, Law, Safety or Public Works; the change was raised in the context of Finance Director Ervin’s upcoming maternity leave and the planned appointment of Amy as Acting Finance Director. Police Chief Whitman briefed council on Resolution 2017-37 to purchase a new patrol vehicle: “This is the first of three cruisers to be purchased this year and is included in the budget,” he said, adding the vehicle price is $26,129 and equipping costs $10,381; the purchase was approved.

Vice Mayor Bray introduced a slate of new ordinances (2017-13 through 2017-20) to place charter amendments and zoning and stormwater proposals on the July 17 agenda for public hearings. Council also voted to cancel the July 3 meeting and set the next regular meeting for July 17.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2017-09 (sale of 35.171 acres to Warren County) — adopted (mover: Council member Hall; second: Council member Aldridge; votes: Bray yes, Aldridge yes, Fouts yes, Hall yes, B. Centers yes, Ruppert no, Mayor absent). Ordinance 2017-10 (donation boxes) — adopted (mover: Fouts; second: B. Centers; unanimous among present members). Ordinance 2017-11 (street lighting) — adopted (unanimous among present members). Resolution 2017-35 (tax budget) — adopted (unanimous among present members). Ordinance 2017-12 (appropriations amendment) — adopted (unanimous among present members). Resolution 2017-36 (acting director pay policy) — adopted (unanimous among present members). Resolution 2017-37 (police vehicle purchase) — adopted (unanimous among present members).

City Manager Lewis reported several administrative updates: Riley Boulevard work is scheduled to begin on July 10 with nighttime construction and an estimated two-week duration; the city received a $10,000 Safe Routes to School reimbursable grant for Safety Town and $3,500 from the Duke Energy Foundation for park/pool revitalization; the Sidewalk Replacement Phase 2 bid opening is scheduled for June 21; and staff will schedule Economic Development and Safety Council Committee meetings. Council members used the final portion of the meeting for recognitions and brief local updates, including questions about the Deardoff Road property (bids due July 20), status of a potential Camping World development (land not yet purchased), and replacement of bridge streetlight globes.

The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.