Franklin Council advances infrastructure projects and school partnerships

FRANKLIN — Mayor Eugene Foulcard and the Franklin City Council approved several infrastructure agreements and discussed new partnerships with local schools during the regular meeting on Tuesday, July 1.
Mayor Foulcard opened the meeting by encouraging residents to stay weather aware as a tropical storm was expected to affect the area over the following two days. He also reminded the public that a precautionary boil water advisory had been issued after a water line rupture caused a temporary drop in water pressure.
The council unanimously approved minutes from its June regular meeting and the July 1 inauguration and special meeting.
During committee reports, Councilwoman Pearl Rack updated the council on a recent meeting she and Mayor Foulcard held with St. Mary Parish Schools Superintendent Rachel Sanders to discuss opportunities for collaboration between the city and local schools. Rack said discussions centered on strengthening partnerships with public schools, the Head Start program and career and technical education initiatives. She added that she is also working to meet with administrators from Franklin’s private schools.
Rack also shared news from the St. Mary Parish School Board that the former Franklin Junior High School building will be renamed the Park Avenue Learning Center. The facility will serve as a multi-purpose instructional campus, housing the parish’s alternative school, therapeutic behavior services and district training programs. Rack said she was excited to see the historic Park Avenue name return to the building, prompting a brief discussion among council members about the school’s history.
The council introduced an ordinance that will declare certain city-owned movable property as surplus and authorize its sale through a sealed bid process.
Several resolutions were also approved unanimously. Among them was an agreement allowing Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company to temporarily use city-owned property during work related to the abandonment of one of its pipelines.
Council members also accepted a donation of reclaimed asphalt pavement from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, material that can be used for future city projects.
The council authorized the mayor to execute a grant agreement through the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities after the city received a 2026 Parish America 250 Mini Grant, which supports local programs commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Another resolution authorized the city to enter into agreements with Saronic Technologies Inc. for the construction and financing of a new waterline and related infrastructure.
In other business, Dorris Hawkins was appointed to the Franklin Historic District Commission and Leslie Luquette was appointed to the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustments.
Mayor Foulcard also noted that the city’s May financial statements had been presented to the council.
Before adjourning, the mayor reminded residents of two upcoming community events: the Bayou Beaux Summer Dance Recital and the St. Mary Back to School Community Fair.