By Stephen Smoot
Town of Franklin officials may not have set a record for efficiency at last week’s council meeting, but if local government had a department of government efficiency, it would have been quite pleased at the speed with which the council dispatched municipal business. Only 15 minutes separated Bob Horan’s, mayor, call to order and approval of adjournment.
Business opened with the financial statement, in which Frank Wehrle, Franklin Town administrator, discussed opening a line of credit to help with the water project. He explained that recent expenditures in recent months have “really tapped us pretty hard.”
He then shared details on water project progress, saying that they need to get electricity to the Hanover tank, but that Mon Power tried to charge the town $50,000 for tree removal. The town will find a lower cost alternative.
Council also heard that the State of West Virginia approved the town’s plan for the new sewer facility. Town officials will meet with Region 8 to help “get our ducks in a row for funding,” explained Wehrle.
Next, Wehrle informed the council that the town had received a watershed planning grant. The town put the project out to bid and received proposals. Because “the lowest bid came from an outfit that had issues,” as Wehrle stated, he recommended the second lowest bidder, Thrasher. All of the other bids came in much higher.
The mayor and council also heard that the proposed rate increase had passed the point at which rate payers could mount a protest with the West Virginia Public Service Commission. Some had filed, but the threshold for review comes when 25 percent of rate payers file a protest and not enough did at this time.
Town of Franklin officials also met all other legal requirements for the rate increase to go into effect.
Out of 20 invited to submit a proposal to audit the Town of Franklin, only one responded. Wehrle stated, “We’d like three, but we only need one.” Council will get a chance to approve or reject the bid at the next regular meeting.
During council comment time, Bruce Minor, town recorder, noted that the Pendleton County Commission had indicated its desire to purchase the old Franklin Elementary School building that recently housed the Redeeming Grace Church. He said, “The main reason is trying to get more office space.”
Russ Sasso, council member, proposed removing one of the stop signs on Dogwood. Horan replied, “Nobody stops there anyway.”
Jarred Rawson, council member, shared that people had expressed discontent with higher trash removal fees. Wehrle replied that “this is the first time we’ve raised trash rates in 20 some years. It’s a market adjustment.”
Council members also heard that the town was struggling to get full approval from property owners concerning relocating power poles from the road and sidewalk into yards.
