Mayor Greg Route and the Franklinton Board of Aldermen held their final March meeting on Tuesday, March 28. Following the approval of the previous special meeting minutes from March 21 and regular meeting minutes from March 14, the Board moved to new business.
Logan McKay, CEO of EverCharge gave the Board a report on the installation of rapid charging stations for electric vehicles to be located in Franklinton. Mr. McKay noted that his company based in Mandeville sells, services, designs, maintains, and provides customer services for their products. He explained that Franklinton will have the only charging stations in Washington Parish and the closest rapid charging stations will be in Hammond, Slidell and McComb, Mississippi.
Once up and running, the rapid charging station will be placed on an interactive map available to owners of electric vehicles, and this will ultimately bring more visitors to the town. This map will also give suggestions for nearby businesses such as restaurants and shopping. The EverCharge product is a universal charger and will charge any electric vehicle, including Teslas.
The proposed locations of the chargers are the parking lots on Main and Ellis Streets and Jackson and Cleveland Streets. The cost to the town will be $31,000 and the town will complete the installation. Franklinton will own the unit and get recurring revenue at a rate set by the Town. Mr. McKay stated that it will likely take nine months to one year to reach a point where the Town begins seeing a return on its investment.
Frankie Crosby was next on the agenda to inform everyone that the yearly town cleanup is usually held in March. However, this year it is set for Saturday, April 22, to join Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungessor's initiative to clean up Louisiana's towns and cities. Those wishing to join this effort need to meet at the Public Works Building for assignments. Lunch will be provided and the person who pickups up the most trash will receive a special prize courtesy of Mr. Crosby.
The Board then voted to approve the authorization for the Mayor to sign a resolution changing the signatory authority with Stifel, Nicholas and Company. The board also voted to authorize the Mayor to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Washington Parish Government concerning the Franklinton rural fire service response area. The Franklinton Fire Department has been answering calls to a small rural area just outside of town limits where there is no established fire district.
This agreement for them to continue to do so will now be in writing and should aid in the process of getting the fire department rating lowered when re-rating is done at the end of 2024. The Board was pleased about this as this rating directly affects residents home insurance rates.
In other business, the Board voted to authorize the Mayor to sign a cooperative agreement with the Planning and Social Committee and the Washington Parish Watermelon Festival. Finally, the board voted to introduce an ordinance authorizing the issuance of a license to cover circuses, concerts, carnivals and approved special events. This is a direct result of the March 21 special meeting and will allow rolling vendors in town for short periods of time. Events that may attract such vendors must seek approval by the Board and the host will be charged $250. However, hosts must have insurance to cover the event and must have a list of approved participants of the event which must be tied to the place and event. Vendors must go through the host organization to participate.
In departmental reports, Engineer Jay Pittman reported that there will be a walk-through of the Bene Street Well on Friday March 31, and that should conclude the water system improvements of that line once the well goes back into service. He also noted that Barriere Construction is finishing up street paving with striping. Mr. Pittman was pleased that two very large Franklinton projects are nearing completion in the next few weeks.
The next project will be the installation of a new water system from Carter Street past Riverside Hospital, and the Mayor is hopeful this project will result in fewer boil-water incidents as well as greatly improve the medical district's infrastructure. Surveying for this project has begun.
In departmental reports, Fire Chief Brandon Lasalle reported four structure fires in the March and 24 medical calls. He also had an update on the new fire truck and stated it should be in Franklinton by the end of July. There was a brief discussion of the difficulty of recruiting firemen to the volunteer staff with hopes this will improve.
Police Chief Justin Brown reported that since February 14 to March 27, the FPD had responded to 1,269 calls with 27 persons arrested for 51 total offenses. Chief Brown also addressed four recent shootings in the area commonly known as The Cottonfield and Williams Street. He stated that his primary concern is, "When a firearm is fired into the air, bullets are going to come down somewhere." The FPD is asking for citizens help to get to the bottom of such shootings. Brown reminded everyone that reporting can be done anonymously or texted anonymously to his cell at 985-335-6904.
During public participation Rev. Pepe Tate thanked Mayor Route and Alderwoman Patrice Crain for attending and supporting the Franklinton Community Family Center at its recent Chromebook giveaway. Ms. Crain stated she is thrilled that Mrs. Violet Tate is mentoring and reaching out to needy youth in the community. Mr. T. J. Butler expressed his pleasure that the water system issues are about to be resolved and thanked Mayor Route for stepping in and getting this project on the fast track.
Mayor Route reminded everyone that on April 7 at 10:00 am, he will be unveiling the new streets signs for Rayfus Martin Drive and TJ Butler Sr. Drive. That same day from 2:00 - 4:00 pm the Planning and Social Committee is sponsoring an Easter Egg hunt and other activities at the Fairgrounds. Mrs. Emma Route stated there will be great prizes and every child will be leaving happy. The Mayor also thanked everyone who participated in the successful Walk With the Mayor and declared the event a huge success.
