The Franklin Town Council received some disaster recovery-related information during the public input session at its March 3 meeting.
U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (N.C. 11th District) office’s Western Field Representative Lake Silver was on hand at the meeting and addressed the council concerning the Mobile Office Unit, which he oversees within the region.
“I first want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to the Town of Franklin,” he said. “Every time I reach out to [Town Manager Amie] Ms. Owens, she is always very accommodating. I am so glad you allow us to talk to constituents through our Mobile Office Unit.”
Silver added that within that unit, case work is collected, including for any constituent who has an issue with a federal agency concerning items such as passports and benefits, including any relating to Social Security or veterans, etc. Caseworkers are on staff and able to act as intermediaries.
He reminded council members that Edwards introduced legislation, including the Disaster Supplemental passed in December, totaling $100 billion that is intended for disaster impacted areas. While some of the funding is used administratively, and some will go to other states, estimates are for $17.4 billion to be used for North Carolina directly. Additional “competitive funds” will be for other state and local government uses.
Silver said that North Carolina projects recovery costs from Hurricane Helene to be around $60 billon, with some additional funding being provided at the state level.
“None of this can make anyone whole,” he explained. “We’ve been through a huge disaster, but we want to try and do the best that we can.”
He went on to say that efforts will be maximized to reduce the expected three-to-five-year timeframe for recovery down closer to one year, given the businesses that are struggling and residents who are without houses or homes.
For people who may want to contact the mobile office with legitimate disaster recovery cases against FEMA in particular, Silver provided a phone number: (223) FIX FEMA (349-3362).
Town Clerk achieves certification
Human Resources Director/Town Clerk Nicole Bradley was recognized by Owens for achieving designation as a Certified Municipal Clerk recently.
“This is not an easy feat,” said Owens. “The certification, which is administered through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), required over 120 hours of in-person and virtual classes. Nicole has to make significant contributions to the local government community – and the state, which she does every day. She also had to be an active member of the IIMC for at least two years.”
Owens went on to add that Bradley, in addition to her clerking duties, also held down full scale Human Resources responsibilities during her four-year-plus tenure with the Town. And out of around 700 municipal clerks in the state, less than half have been certified through the IIMC.
Ordinance change for food truck generator use
A public hearing is scheduled for the April 7 Town Council meeting to receive public input on a proposed public ordinance text amendment designed to limit generator noise attributed to mobile food vending businesses.
“It’s to set some limits for generators used by mobile food vending. We received some complaints last year on loud generators – especially during events,” relayed Town Planner Justin Setser.
According to the proposed change language, “All mobile food vendors shall operate at a noise level that complies with the Town’s noise ordinance in order to avoid creating a public nuisance … and shall maintain said generator noise such that no noise in excess of 60 decibels is emitted.”
The ordinance changes also allow for sound absorbing devices to contain or deflect the noise from external generators.
Whitmire project ordinance approved
Finance Director Sarah Bishop presented a budget amendment for $1,194,762.91 to be drawn from the General Fund ($694,762.91) and the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund ($500,000.00) in support of the Whitmire Inclusive Playground project.
The submission was described as a formality in order to get the funding set up as a capital project ordinance in the general ledger accounting system. Council members unanimously approved the request.