By Stephen Smoot
Mayor and council of the Town of Franklin held two meetings last week on Wednesday, so as not to disrupt the combined town and county elections. The first was intended to give the public an opportunity to weigh-in on use of the recently applied one percent sales tax.
Frank Wehrle provided the financial statement and shared that “everything is going as well as it can be” He explained that “the water fund is tight right now” and that the town is getting by in the style of “paycheck to paycheck.”
“Revenues are close to where we need them to be.” he added. The town is paying on the line of credit used for the creek crossing project.
Discussion of the challenges in the water fund led directly to a proposal to the mayor and council from Waterfront Group, represented by Kirk Wilson of L and W Engineering in Petersburg.
Waterfront Group purchased Fisher Mountain in recent years, then also bought the former Hanover property. He explained, and also showed on a map, Waterfront Group’s plan to install nine recreational vehicle lots in the flood plain along the river and 10 residential lots in areas above that boundary. Where three meters once served the plant, 19 will serve the proposed development.
“We need to extend the water line there,” Wilson said. Waterfront Group would pay for the extension and the town would be in charge of maintenance going forward. He shared that the process would require approval by the town, next the health department, and then the West Virginia Public Service Commission. Only then the project can start. Later in the meeting, he said the process could take two years to complete.
Council members asked about how the RV lots would work. Wilson stated that they would be sold, not rented or leased. This eased the mind of some officials. Lot owners would thus become town water customers. Wehrle said, “They hold it. They foot the bill.”
Mayor Bob Horan asked if this extension was the start of a bigger project, but Wehrle said, “There’s no more room for anything there.”
Russ Sasso, council member, questioned the project and stated his fear that any extension incurs additional obligation to a system in tough financial straits now. Wehrle responded that the extension would add customers, and therefore revenue. Questions about Franklin water capacity to serve that area were answered as well. Wehrle stated that the additional use would be negligible and that the system could easily accommodate it.
Sewer needs would be easily met by the sewer pond already in place, too. Wehrle also explained that if the lots never sold, it would incur no cost to the town because there would be no need to maintain it. He emphasized that additional revenues from the line would help overall.
The town also would not install meters until the lot itself was purchased and service connected.
Next came the water ordinance on the agenda. Wehrle explained that a hike in the bill was needed because the town could fall behind on its bond payments. He added that the PSC would step in and force payments should the town fall behind.
Wehrle emphasized that the town was not at this point in danger of that, but he wished to prevent that problem. “We are obligated to pay our bonds,” he added, then suggested that optimally the best choice would be to have a 12 percent hike in the short-term and another six months later. The first would fall in August or September after clearing the PSC.
“The rate increase,” Wehrle stated, “would only apply to the bonds with the goal of getting them to zero.” He also pointed out that the town had not raised rates in seven years, which has not allowed it to keep up with inflation, especially during COVID.
Jared Rawson, council member, objected and stated that he himself would struggle to afford such a fat hike in such a short period of time. “I can’t do that. I totally can’t,” then shared that he did not think some others could either.
After debate, the council stated it was more comfortable with 10 percent per year for three years.
Next, council approved the updating of the employee personnel policy, which was more of a series of language adjustments that any new amendments.
Then the council voted to go into executive session, concluding the public part of the meeting.
