Safe Zones in city may not be getting full use

Franklin Police Chief Sabria McGuire reported on the effectiveness of the city’s Safe Zones Tuesday at the Franklin City Council meeting at City Hall.
“The kids don’t use them,” McGuire said of the several citywide designated transaction security areas. “I don’t know how to get it out to them how important they are and what kind of things can happen [without them].”
McGuire again pointed toward the Judicial Reform Act as a particular safety concern, its having sanctioned the release of dozens of offenders into the parish, through the early terminations of their original sentences.
Further illustrating the unappreciated danger, she recounted a recent incident in which her officers foiled a would-be car burglary in an area of the city where kids are frequently seen at leisure.
“But in that area, kids feel trust,” she explained. “So if kids were selling a cell phone, they might meet up at someone’s house, there. They just don’t understand.”
McGuire went on to say that parents are aware of the Safe Zones and use them for ferrying their children to and from transactions, and that Chez Hope has become, by proxy, a successful Safe Zone in that regard.
“They [parents] used to use McDonald’s in different areas. But, they are using that Safe Zone [Chez Hope] and the police station. That helps us to avoid bad situations happening. So, that message has gotten out— that between Chez Hope and us, there’s a safe place for parental exchange.
“So, we have a lot of adults who come and utilize it, but the children don’t.”
McGuire suggested that a campaign of awareness, to inform kids of Safe Zones, may be helpful, perhaps in the form of a mandatory school assembly.
To which, it was unofficially agreed among the mayor and councilmembers, that addressing student awareness through informative school assemblies was an advantageous approach to the issue.
Subsequent to McGuire’s report, Franklin Water Plant Manager Granderson Hamilton reported to the council that a faulty water level transmitter was to blame for the water system malfunction that left the city without water for the better part of the day of Dec. 21. However, it was also explained that a new transmitter replaced the faulty one that same day, and that the system was back to being fully operational by that afternoon.
In addition to the reports from McGuire and Hamilton, an ordinance was introduced to authorize the issuance of $1,880,000 of taxable limited tax bonds to pay for the execution of a loan with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for use in the renovation of the city’s sewer plant. As well as, a resolution was later passed to apply to the State Bond Commission for approval of the issuance of said bonds.
In other news:
—A resolution was passed authorizing Mayor Raymond Harris to negotiate a lease contract to purchase one Saber Pumper Fire Truck and one Encore Rescue Fire Truck.
—It was announced that Chez Hope will hold a vigil to raise awareness of teen dating violence, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m. at Franklin Senior High School, in the parking lot, near the flagpole.
—Keep St. Mary Beautiful will hold a city-wide clean-up Feb. 10, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., beginning at Stage Parking Lot.
—Summer Arts Program Registration will be held Feb. 5 through March 30 at City Hall; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday. Registration fee for the art program is $20 per course; dance program is $20 per person.