By Ammie Ruddle
There was a short and sweet town hall meeting on Oct. 4 at the town hall office.
Frank Wehrle, town manager, discussed new business. He told council members that the Cedar Hill Cemetery account had a certificate of deposit that they would like to reinvest. The current CD amount is $38,000; the council members discussed reinvesting that amount into a new CD at a local bank but did not decide which bank they will use.
Bob Horan, mayor, discussed appointing a town representative to the Pendleton County Convention and Visitors Bureau to act as a liaison for the town. The representative will attend both the CVB and the town hall meetings, relaying information from each meeting.
Horan mentioned that, due to the by-laws, he cannot just appoint anyone to act as the town hall representative for the CVB board and the individuals he has spoken to about taking the seat on the board have either declined the position or did not show interest sitting on the CVB board as a town representative.
Next on the agenda was the discussion of the water project. Bids for the project are set to start on Oct. 17; however, the council members do not think the project will begin until the spring of 2023.
Horan moved on the meeting with the announcement that an individual has been hired as the new water operator. He said that originally there were three applicants for the position. One of the individuals withdrew his application and of the remaining two applicants, Jasper Mallow was employed as the town’s new water operator.
In addition to a water operator, Elizabeth Scott, Town of Franklin’s assistant business manager, was announced as the new executive director for the Pendleton County Chamber of Commerce. Scott addressed the members regarding the part-time position.
“I just want all of you to know that my town job comes first. I have been doing the chamber (position), filling in as back up in the interim of not having a director in place for the last two and half months,” Scott said.
She added, “It has went really well. It has not been on the town’s time, but my time.”
Scott went on to say that she will be returning to an advisory position for the Town of Franklin on the chamber of commerce board, which is a “non-voting” position. This is a position she held previously before it changed to a voting position for the board.
Scott rounded out the meeting by reminding the council members that there will be a pre-k and kindergarten trick or treat from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Oct.26 for town businesses to take part in.
Due to the November election, the next meeting is to be determined. Town hall meetings are typically held on the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the town hall office.
