Opening the Sept. 2 Town of Franklin Council Meeting was a presentation by Town Clerk and Human Resources Director Nicole Bradley of a service award for Bill Allen’s 30 years of dedication to the Town. He has served within the Waste Water Department throughout his tenure and is currently the lab supervisor for that department. He also fills a role as Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC) for physical chemicals within the water treatment plant.
Still striving to achieve more in his job, Bradley also reported that Allen is in the process of getting certified as a “BAC-T” tester. Said Bradley, “Doing so will allow Bill to conduct bacteriological laboratory procedures for analysis of drinking water ‘in-house.’ These tests are conducted when there’s a water line break and this will allow for shorter boil water advisory periods.”
Sabrina Scruggs, Town Tax Collector and Event Coordinator, was also recognized by Bradley for her 10 years of service to the Town.
Town annexes new property
A public hearing was held on a voluntary annexation request at 2222 Georgia Rd. The request was discussed at the August meeting, when a hearing was set for the September meeting. The property currently resides in what is known as extra-territorial jurisdiction, meaning it is adjacent to but not formally located within Franklin corporate limits.
Town Planner Justin Setser reported the annexation to be satellite in nature as it is not contiguous with the end of actual town limits. Property owner Lora Lenders submitted the annexation petition Aug. 1 and, along with representatives Rob and Anita D’Angelo, intends, upon approval, to use the property as a “wine bar/food truck park.” Part of the process to do so includes obtaining a liquor license from the North Carolina ABC Board.
With no one choosing to speak in support of or against the proposal during the public input portion of the hearing, council members approved the request unanimously.
TDA funding and social district events
Follow-up discussion took place at the meeting on two issues brought up in previous council sessions. Tourism Development Authority (TDA) funds use and Social District business were again addressed, with both awaiting further guidance or decision from the board.
At the August meeting, TDA feedback revealed around $16,000 of undesignated funds within its budget. Vice Mayor Stacey Guffey initiated examining ways the Town might benefit from any of those funds for tourism-related improvements. Town Manager Amie Owens suggested replacing banners that are hung across Main Street, as they are worn and old. She relayed that banners cost about $130 apiece, plus an additional cost for hanging them.
“I think the banners are low hanging fruit … I get calls about the banners all the time; about how poorly they look in some sections of town,” said Guffey.
Added Council Member Robbie Tompa, “Requests can be continuous. If you have an idea, bring it up … the thought is to initiate this process and for it to be a continuous relationship with the TDA board. Also, for TDA members to get ideas and run them by us and vice versa.”
The Town must submit requests similar to any organization requesting TDA support for an event or project.
The banner request was submitted and reviewed at the Sept. 9 TDA meeting with a decision forthcoming by November.
For the upcoming town-sponsored events, Pumpkinfest on Oct. 19, and Winter Wonderland set for Dec. 14 and 21, discussion continued concerning whether to restrict social district hours in any way. Another question was if vendors outside of the district would be invited to participate in either event.
For Pumpkinfest, social districting as usual will take place but no outside vendors will be invited to participate. The question was raised because additional businesses did participate in the August-held ’80s Flashback Weekend.
Owens offered to restrict alcohol sales for the first night of Winter Wonderland from 5-8 p.m., due primarily to location of activities as well as event focus that particular evening.
“All of the events occur right there at the square, on county property where all the photo opportunities are, where the nativity scene is …. Anyone who comes to ride in a horse-drawn carriage cannot have alcohol with them,” said Owens.
She added that for the second night, because it is traditionally not as well attended, and with food truck vendors more prevalent, social districting would be in effect. Outside alcohol vendors could also attend so long as they offer for sale their own social district cups, which are then to sold to and used by customers to transit through the district while consuming alcohol.
Main street repaving and repair
Guffey reported that after talking with N.C. Representative Karl Gillespie’s office, an agreement was made to accelerate the schedule for re-paving Main Street, from 2028 to 2027. More immediate, however, was the decision made for other assistance.
Guffey read from the official response received from N.C. Dept. of Transportation.
“We will plan to move up [re-paving] to 2027. Any sooner would create a major disruption in our five-year program … Our traffic services unit has agreed to freshen up the centerline and crosswalk striping with new thermo-plastic. Our maintenance staff will patch any low spots or potholes that may occur before the resurfacing project.”
Franklin Mayor Jack Horton congratulated Guffey and fellow council member Mike Lewis on their efforts.