By Stephen Smoot
The April meeting of the Town of Franklin Mayor and Council featured a presentation by Michelle Connor, representing Mon Forest Towns. She came armed with “big copies” of handouts and a presentation on progress made in community meetings.
Mon Forest Towns developed a planning team that held a number of community “listening sessions.” These included both public engagement in meetings and also interviews with selected stakeholders and other individuals. A third-party professional facilitator conducted both the meetings and the interviews.
“Franklin is the county hub,” stated Connor. She provided as an example the expanding slate of activities at the Warner Drive-In and arts center. “People are coming from hundreds of miles away” to enjoy the shows at Warner, she added.
The document shared with mayor and council established the goals of the project. The first set has its objective to “broaden and strengthen outdoor access, recreation, and natural assets.” Others included revitalizing downtown and enhancing various “interpretive experiences for visitors and residents,” build community wellness and “intergenerational connection,” and finally to “strengthen collaboration, leadership capacity, and clear communication.”
Each goal had its own chart illustrating actions and next steps, projects in progress, future priorities and activities, and potential partners. Connor repeatedly shared her delight that so many projects envisioned had already been picked up by groups and individuals in the area.
Additionally, the focus centers not just on Franklin within town boundaries, but areas adjacent. One project envisioned would train local volunteers to build trails up to national forest standards with the Peter Mountain Loop Trail an initial target for such help. Connor added that Pendleton County Schools owns an old schoolhouse on land near the trail. The superintendent and board of education had recently discussed the unusual arrangement with United States Forest Service concerning the school and also that the structure has fallen into severe, and possibly irrevocable, disrepair.
Many members of the public discussed river access in and around Franklin. “People want to come to Franklin to fish,” Connor noted, adding that “most small towns our size don’t have two sporting goods stores.”
She also shared that a gap existed in participation, stating that the most active speakers came from those above the age of 50. Connor indicated that she wanted to hear more from teenagers and young adults to find what they would like to see take place.
Connor closed by saying that she wanted to bring the unfinished document to mayor and council to continue to get feedback from them and town administrators. She requested “notes and feedback” from each.
Kristen Dingess, council member, replied, “Thank you for bringing this” and “I appreciate the detailed handout.” Connor stated that the next meeting would occur at 4 p.m. on April 28 at the board of education conference room. A final plan will likely be in place by August.
After Connor’s presentation, council approved two items to check boxes. First came the sewer project procurement policy. West Virginia Community Development Block Grant applications indicate the necessity of such policies prior to seeking funding from that source. Council also approved a fair housing, non discriminatory measure. Annual approval is required for certain grant funding opportunities.
Jared Rawson, council member, asked what the fair housing resolution was. Frank Wehrle replied that “it means the Town of Franklin does not discriminate for any reason” in terms of engaging anyone over housing questions or related issues.
Next came discussion and a vote on revising the snow removal ordinance. The law continues to require home and business owners to take responsibility for removing snow from sidewalks adjacent to the property within a certain period of time. Council’s revision gives the mayor the power to declare a snow emergency to give all more time to remove either large amounts of snow or the heavy ice and snow combination that fell in January.
Another snow-related decision came with the town stating that when forecasts call for large amounts of precipitation, officials can close the town parking lot and keep it free of vehicles. During the ice and snow storm last winter that dumped enormous amounts of precipitation, snow removal from the lot was hampered by the presence of vehicles. Their presence means that removal takes longer and also that vehicles could accidentally take on damage.
Keely Smith, council member and also director of parks and recreation, provided an update to fellow members. Concessions for the month of March added up to approximately $300, mostly from ballgames. Smith also shared that she had made significant progress in setting up free half and full days at the Town of Franklin pool.
Wehrle shared with council that “Keely sent a lot of letters to businesses in and out of town.” Smith stated her surprise at some of the businesses and individuals eagerly participating. Those wishing to sponsor a half free day could donate $150. A full day would require $300.
“I have 13 free days so far. Hopefully, we will get more,” said Smith.
With an unknown amount of money coming to Franklin from the West Virginia State Tax Office at the end of April, Smith proposed a public meeting to discuss how to spend proceeds from the one percent sales tax that started at the beginning of the year. Bruce Minor, town recorder, suggested that the town wait and see how much money it gets.
“If you get $1,500, that’s one thing,” he related, “$15,000 is something else.”
