Mayor gives updates on infrastructure, various programs

Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard submitted his executive report Tuesday, outlining his first six months in office.
At the city council meeting, Foulcard thanked the council members for their support and recognized Franklin’s newly appointed police chief Morris Beverly, stating that he looked forward to working with him.
Foulcard announced that the city is set to begin work next month on the overlaying of South Willow Street at Chatsworth Road, and is currently in the process of bidding the job with Miller Engineers & Associates.
Of his accomplishments, the mayor pointed to: the first job fair ever conducted in Franklin which took place in October in cooperation with South Louisiana Community College; the institution of Project Front Yard, a community beautification initiative reportedly begun under the auspice of Lafayette Consolidated Government; a community connections meeting hosted in December with the Louisiana Housing Corporation; work on a $1.8 million sewer rehabilitation project and water lines provided throughout portions of the city which were previously without adequate water pressure.
He further noted working with Fire Chief Chuck Bourgeois to “rewrite” safety manuals for the city’s respective departments, and the guidelines overseeing their conduct.
Lastly, he pointed to August’s Art Walk as a success, along with last month’s Christmas parade and the Merchants’ Association’s Mingle and Jingle festivities.
Director of Utilities Bernard Daniels gave a report concerning the Roseville Street water line extensions and renovations at the city’s sewer plant.
“The Roseville project is 100 percent complete,” Daniels said, adding that the water line extensions “did exactly what we expected them to do.”
He went on to say that they are 95 percent complete with the Norman and Bauer and Main Street tie-ins, which he says will help give adequate fire protection to the area behind the John Deere dealership.
As for the sewer plant renovations, Daniels reported that the same contractor working on the water line extensions will see to adding air relief valves at the Magnolia Street project.
In other news, Joe Phillips was appointed to the West St. Mary Port Commission and Edward Delone was appointed to the Civil Service Board.
Announcements included:
—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day March will be held Monday at 12 p.m. on the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Wall Street and will end at the Triumph Baptist Church.
—Main Street University Conference will be held Wednesday and Thursday at the Lamp Post in Franklin. Commercial revitalization will be discussed with guests from the State and visitors from across the state.
—Franklin City-Wide Clean-Up will be held Feb. 9 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Stage parking lot.