New business at the May 5 Franklin Town Council Meeting included a resolution approval for a bicycle and pedestrian planning grant as well as for a bid to re-pave Trimont Trail. Some May observance proclamations were also announced by the Town.
NCDOT grant
With Mayor Jack Horton back in the saddle after an absence due to health issues, the Town Council was in session on Monday with a slew of new business items. On the recreational front, council members first worked on approving a resolution tied to a N.C. Dept. of Transportation (NCDOT) grant.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant requires local approval of $4,500 as a match to what the state will provide.
If approved, the grant will be used to update the Bike Walk Franklin Plan that was originally approved back in 2017. Town Planner Justin Setser addressed council members on the background of work that has occurred since.
“A lot of sidewalk and other projects have come from [the grant],” he said. “Other road projects and bike lane work has also helped with [grant] scoring due to having multiple plans. With the original plan nearing 10 years, I recommend applying for an update to that plan. As part of that we need to pass a resolution.”
Language within the resolution reads in part: “The Town of Franklin will use the grant to plan and develop the Comprehensive Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan to identify, address, and promote safety, health, and well-being, connectivity to recreation and civic facilities, connectivity of residential neighborhoods to commercial districts, Schools for the Safe Routes Program, and bicycle lane development.”
With a maximum of $45,000 allowed for towns that fall in Franklin’s size range, the Town would be responsible for committing 10% or $4,500 of municipal funding. With a grant application deadline of May 12, council members unanimously approved the resolution.
Trimont Trail re-paving
Town Manager Amie Owens advised the council, “We did the Wilkie Street sewer line improvement earlier in 2024 and we are still waiting to overlay Wilkie Street from that project. It made sense since Trimont Trail connects to Wilkie Street to go ahead and take care of that paving.”
One part of the effort was to send out bid opportunities to local paving companies. Bryson Enterprises Ltd., based out of Highlands, provided the lowest bid at $143,190. Owens added that one reason Bryson’s bid was significantly lower than others was because they would already be working in that area on another project.
Therefore, a normal mobilization fee associated with a bid was waived.
The project is expected to be completed before the end of the current fiscal year (June 30). It includes re-paving from Wilkie Street to Harrison Avenue, an area encompassing just over one mile (1.1).
Owens advised council members that a budget amendment must be approved in order to allocate funds from the Powell Bill fund balance. The bill was the result of a 15-year effort by the N.C. League of Municipalities to have the state fund building and maintenance of major city streets and was originally passed in 1951. Council members unanimously approved the bid and budget amendment.
Three proclamations were announced at Monday’s meeting: Municipal Clerk’s Week, May 4-10; National Police Week, May 11-17, with Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 16; and Public Works Week, May 19-25.
As part of Municipal Clerk’s Week, Horton thanked Town of Franklin Municipal Clerk (and Human Resources Director) Nicole Bradley for her service to the Town.
Horton next called up Franklin Police Chief Devin Holland before reading the National Police Week proclamation. As part of the observances that week, a Fallen Officers Memorial Service will be held at noon on Friday, May 16, at the Gazebo on the square in downtown Franklin.
Horton also recognized Council Member Mike Lewis on his achievement of the Advanced Municipal Leadership Certification.
“It’s a program where you take classes in different aspects of municipal government. There are different levels of certification and I’ve achieved the first 12 course-hour level, of three total,” said Lewis.
Additionally, the mayor announced that Franklin received a Commit to Civility award. Only six municipalities within North Carolina qualified for the recognition and Franklin was the first municipality with 100% board member participation within the qualification.
Referring to the League of Municipalities recognition, Horton added, “the League commended the Town of Franklin for our efforts in this program of committing to civility and that ‘we will treat everyone with respect on the board and in the public, and we will conduct our meetings in a civilized manner.”’
A public hearing was announced and set for June 2 for public input on the proposed FY-2026 Town of Franklin budget. A copy of the proposed budget will be available for reviewing on the town’s website and in hard copy at Town Hall.
Pictured top: At the May 5 meeting, Town of Franklin Mayor Jack Horton showed attendees the Commit to Civility award that the town received; council member Robbie Tompa looks on.