Votes at a glance: contract, funding and personnel actions approved by Franklin commission

The Franklin City Commission cleared a slate of routine and consequential items at its April 27 meeting, approving a contract amendment, accepting grant/subaward funding, adopting a municipal road aid resolution and passing two ordinances. Key outcomes are summarized below.

• Water treatment plant oversight: The commission approved Amendment 1 to the contract with Barge to provide construction oversight of the water treatment plant main breaker and switchboard, adding $18,700 for oversight because the originally assigned staff inspector is no longer available. The motion passed by roll call.

• Municipal road aid: Staff reported the state's municipal road aid award for the coming fiscal year will be $195,085.14 (about $43,000 less than the current award) and recommended participation in the FY26‑27 municipal road cooperative program. The commission adopted the program agreement and a related resolution and authorized the mayor to sign.

• Subdivision street lights (Warren RACC / WREC): The commission authorized the city to assume current and future inside‑city Warren RACC/WREC street‑lighting charges identified in staff's memo; staff estimated the additional cost at about $3,800 per month. The motion passed.

• HIDTA funding: The commission accepted a HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) subaward and related reimbursements for the police department’s participation on the regional drug task force. Staff said the total allocation to the department this year is $57,000, including overtime and K‑9 support; the commission authorized signature of the agreement.

• Ordinances: Ordinance 2026009 (government assessment) passed unanimously on second summary reading. Ordinance 2026010, rezoning property on Brown Road from I‑2 Heavy Industry to B‑4 Highway Business as requested by James A. Manning and Gail H. Manning (Provable Living Trust), also passed unanimously on second summary reading.

• Personnel and appointments: The commission ratified the contract for Amanda East as city attorney after discussion about contract length and renewal provisions, and voted to hire Zach Law as a water distribution operator following executive session. The commission also approved cancellation of the May 25 meeting (Memorial Day) and approval of meeting minutes.

All formal votes and roll calls occurred on the record; where roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript they are reflected in the meeting record.