The Mayor and Board of Aldermen held their regularly scheduled meeting last Tuesday at Franklinton Town Hall.
Town Clerk Ellen Waskom presented the sales tax report for the month of March. The Town collected $187,122 in the General Fund, an increase of approximately $37,000 from March 2020. Year-to-date collections are up $87,000 over what was budgeted. The Economic Development/Industrial Development fund collected $10,373 for the month of March 2021, an increase of slightly over $2500 when compared to March 2020.
Police Chief Justin Brown gave a report for the Police Department for March 23 through April 12. During this time, the department received 542 total calls for service. In Public Assistance, there were 253 general complaints, 44 extra patrols/standby, 28 medical calls, 22 alarms, and 23 suspicious persons/vehicles.
In the department's Traffic Division, 67 traffic stops were made, officers worked 4 single vehicle crashes/assistance, 13 multi vehicle crashes, one DWI, 3 reckless operation of motor vehicle, and issued 15 citations.
In the Criminal Patrol division, there were 11 disturbances, 3 fights, 1 aggravated battery, 1 simple burglary, 1 vehicle burglary, 4 theft/shoplifting, 2 narcotics related incidents, with 6 individuals being arrested on 14 offenses.
Superintendent Reginald McMasters presented a report from the Public Works Department for the month of March. In the Water Department, there were 22 connects, 19 disconnects, investigated 11 water leaks and installed 2 new water meters. Superintendent McMasters stated that the chloramine system is working great and the town continues to work on a model for the flushing program. There was a boil water advisory near the hospital due to a bad leak that affected approximately 250 people. In the Gas Department, there were 7 gas connects, 2 gas leaks, 1 pilot was lit, 3 read in-readout, repaired 1 gas meter and reread 15 gas meters.
Mayor Route read a proclamation that celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Washington Parish Library.
The Board accepted a bid of $4225 for a fire department tanker that had been declared surplus.
The Board also approved alcohol permits for K & V Groceries and Winn-Dixie.
The resignation of Anthony Cox from the Franklinton Police Department was accepted and the Board also voted to hire Joshua Babin to the Police Department.
The Board declared the following vehicles from the police department as surplus: 2006 Ford Crown Victoria, 2010 Ford Crown Victoria, and two 2009 Chevrolet Tahoes. The minimum bid for each Crown Victoria is $1000 and the minimum bid for the Chevy Tahoes is $3500 each.
Toby Cortez gave a report on the new mountain bike trails at the Bogue Chitto State Park. Cortez stated that the State Park had 3 miles of mountain bike trails in November and now has 14 miles of trails, a trailhead with educational venues and other features. The course offers riding for everyone from beginners to professionals and he urges everyone to come out and experience the new trails, or simply watch others as they ride.
