Mayor and City Council hear departmental reports

Franklin’s city council and mayor held their monthly regular meeting Tuesday at City Hall.
Of the guests, Lena Henry with St. Mary Parish Red Ribbon Committee was first to address the mayor and council.
Henry gave a history of the Red Ribbon Campaign, and said, “Here in St. Mary Parish schools we take pride in celebrating the choice of living a healthy lifestyle free of drugs and violence.”
She announced that Red Ribbon Week will be held from Oct. 18 to Oct. 27 in St. Mary Parish and she urged all to participate.
Next to address the mayor and council was Steve Williams.
He implored that something be done about the condition of Blakesly Street.
Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard explained that the city, through Miller Engineers, LLC, has a list of streets to be repaired once the second half of a parish grant becomes available and that Blakesly Street is on that list.
Williams returned to his seat.
Departmental reports were delivered for the Summer Feeding and Summer Fun Programs, and for the city’s Summer Arts Program.
Rodney Monette, with Broussard Harris Recreation Center delivered the Summer Feeding Program report.
He said, “Over at Broussard Harris Rec. we fed (over the course of the summer) 2,280 kids their breakfast, and for lunch, we fed 5,228. Over at City Park Rec. we fed 2,628 (kids) their breakfast, and for lunch, we fed 5,006.”
Councilman Lester Levine called Swanzetta Joseph, FunSummer Program director for Lighthouse Baptist Church, to give a report on the program which utilized both recreation centers in the city.
Joseph said the program lasted from May through July, and taught students through a method called SKILLS: Seeking Knowledge in Living Life Successfully.
“We had football, baseball and basketball clinics,” Joseph said. “We had cheer camp/dance camp for the girls, and we also taught survival skills. We talked about family and the importance of preserving and protecting family. We went on several outings, one to UL Lafayette, and another was to Caroline Creek, a Christian camp in Huntsville, Texas.”
The final departmental report came from Arlana Shields. She reported that the city’s Summer Art Program had been a success, with 95 students taking part in the 110-spot program.
Art classes were held on the second floor of city hall, and dance classes and the dance recital were held at the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts.
In other news, an ordinance was adopted allowing all establishments selling alcoholic beverages in the city to renew their licenses for the year 2020.
It was resolved to adopt the 2018 Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Environmental Audit Report, as well as to request Capital Outlay for non-state funding.
It was proclaimed that the city supports the 2019 Red Ribbon Drug-Free week and announcements included:
—Franklin city-wide clean-up will take place Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Brown Shopping Center parking lot.
—The Franklin Career Fair Prep will be held on Oct. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at South Louisiana Community College Franklin Campus.
—Franklin Career Fair will be held on Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Broussard Harris Recreation Center.
—Harvest Moon Festival Kickoff will take place on Oct. 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts.
—A haunted house will be held nightly from Oct. 25 through Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. at Broussard Harris Recreation Center.
—Teche Action Clinic’s Adeline Guienze Breast Cancer Memorial Fund will hold its 5K Run/Walk on Oct. 26 at 7 a.m. at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse Square.
— Harvest Moon Festival will be held Oct. 26 at 9 a.m. on Main Street.
—Boo on the Bayou will take place on Teche Drive on Oct. 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
—Trick-or-Treatwill take place Oct. 31 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., city-wide.