City council hears from guests, gets updates on taxes, pumps

Franklin’s City Council meeting Tuesday evening was one of good tidings and encouraging reports.
Dawn Kaiser-Melancon from the committee of Fit, Fun and Fabulous Serving St. Mary Parish provided details on the day-long, Oct. 5 event to be held in downtown Franklin.
Spotlighting health and fitness, the function will include healthcare and medical agencies, as well as church and community organizations. Former New Orleans Saint and Hall of Famer Willie Roaf will be the keynote speaker at one of the luncheons held that day, and as in years past, the day will conclude with a candle-light vigil for Chez Hope Family Violence Crisis Center, to bring awareness to domestic violence.
Reid Miller, Miller Engineers & Associates, gave a positive progress report on the pumps that were installed at the bridge on Willow Street. The pumps are operational, though they will undergo more tests, according to Miller, before being handed over to the city. There are two new pumps installed in the Franklin Canal, bringing the total there to four pumps, and Miller says, with “dress up work” to be done, those pumps will likely be operational in two or three weeks.
Before the pump project on the Franklin Canal, draining water had to go across US 90, to the Hanson Canal. With the new pumps, draining water can stay in the Franklin Canal, instead of having to travel so long a route as it did previously. The pumps, at full velocity can pump 150 cubic ft. of water per second.
Director of Finance Ed Hay updated the council on the city’s sales tax collections from January of 2014 through last month, and the recent trends depicted a decrease, to a leveling off. Hay said he would still like to see an improvement with an eye toward 2014 levels.
Chief of Police Sabria McGuire addressed the possibility of instituting a gun return/buy back policy by saying she would research the grants and provisions necessary for such an institution, with results to follow. McGuire was also asked to clarify the terms of the city’s curfew for minors, and she stated that so long as the minor was on the property of the homeowner/parent during curfew hours, and was not being of disturbance to neighbors or passers-by, they were considered in compliance, even if outdoors.
Director of Recreation Chris Barrilleaux reported that the summer recreation programs were a success and thanked all who participated in their success.
Lastly, a resolution authorizing Mayor Raymond Harris Jr. to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the state of Louisiana, Department of the Treasury for the purpose of obtaining the allocation of funding through Act 3 of the 2017 session of the Louisiana Legislature in the amount of $10,000 for the Masonic building repair and renovation, was squarely approved.