The Mayor and Aldermen of the Town of Franklinton met on Tuesday, August 25. The minutes for the August 11 Regular Meeting were approved and the Board preceded with only four items of new business on the agenda.
First Ms. Rebecca Zeagler, a Water Consultant with USG Water, addressed the Mayor and the Board on a tank assessment done on the water tank on Chess Jones Road. She covered the cost of a badly needed renovation to the tank, and the services USG will provide with a contract to complete the work.
Currently this company provides services for the other two water tanks in Franklinton. The Chess Jones project will be fairly big, with lead paint being removed, and the tank being brought up to code. The Chess Jones tank was never put on the USG maintenance program since it was constructed.
Mayor Darwin Sharp agreed that the tank is "in bad shape." Alderwoman Patrice Crain asked if grants have been applied for concerning water and added that "we get them every time we apply." Mayor Sharp responding that a grant writer is currently working on a grant application. Alderman T.J. Butler agreed that it makes sense to have all three wells under same company for maintenance. The mayor plans to meet again with Ms. Zeagler to nail down the details.
The next two items concerned hiring a patrolman and dispatcher for the Police Department. Interviews were conducted and there are currently two vacancies at the PD. Chief Justin Brown explained that the department has been paying overtime to employees to make up for the vacancies at approximately $6,000 per month. Both prospective employees are POST-certified. When questioned why names were not available for the Board, Chief Brown explained that it is to protect the integrity of the two individuals who may be with another agency and suffer repercussions for leaving that agency.
Alderwoman Crain wanted the names of the two being hired. Alderman Butler expressed his concerns over officers beginning at basic pay and moving up to higher positions that equate to bigger pay. Chief Brown explained the rank structure of the police department and noted that these are two bottom-level patrol and dispatcher positions.
Aldermen Butler then scolded Chief Brown by stating, "You need to be in contact with this board. I hear things on the street…" The Chief responded by clarifying that Internal Affairs has had no complaints and he gives little credence to things "heard on the street." He added that every Monday morning there is a meeting to discuss what is happening at the department and Alderman Butler is invited to attend.
Chief Brown assured Butler, "I am always available." Alderman Butler responded that, “Usually the Mayor and the Chief of Police butt heads --- but not in Franklinton."
The Board then went into executive session for approximately ten minutes to learn the names of the proposed hires. When they returned, they approved hiring both the patrolman and the dispatcher.
As in the previous meeting, the Board was to vote to introduce an ordinance to update the water rates charged by the Town. Alderwoman Crain confessed she had been unable to come in and look at the water rates because her job had been extremely hectic.
Mayor Sharp compared the Town's water system to the Titanic. He stated that the town is sinking and “we will have just about sunk in two years if new rates are not adopted.”
Alderwoman Crain is especially concerned about the effect of higher rates on citizens living on a fixed income. She is in favor of increasing rates, but the Mayor's proposal two weeks prior are too high. She added, "We do not have to be the iceberg. When addressing something this serious, the Board shouldn't run headlong without considering our people." She reiterated that the numbers are too high. She would like to see a break-even point and then begin a gradual increase. The Mayor responded that breaking even won't help. Crain wants a chance to look at the numbers and see what can be done. Mayor Sharp added that we are losing time and losing money as we continue to sink.
Jeamie James, a local business owner, urged the Board to take more time, have more thought, and pull in resources to help solve this problem. Bob Bateman added that "we don't want to pay, but we have to." He encouraged the increase in water rates and “tie it to the Consumer Price Index so we don't have to do it every year. It is typical to want to push things back, but it is time. “
Chief Justin Brown reminded the Board that it is their fiduciary duty to address this problem. The Louisiana Constitution Article 7 Section 14 states that the town cannot give services away.
Brown said, “Franklinton is currently losing $700,000 per year. The town owes the water fund 2.5 million and if we go deeper and deeper, we cannot recover from it. It will still take years to dig out of the current situation. When organizations that award grants look at the solvency of the budget, Franklinton will be lacking.”
Chief Brown challenged the Board, "It is your responsibility to fix this. The law states you cannot give [water] it away as we are currently doing.”
The conversation then went to faulty water pipes and meters and Alderwoman Crain said, "We all agree to increase but we need to focus on breaking even; not giving it away but maintaining the budget. This will put us in a better situation. [We need to] put in an ordinance to create a better situation. Let's not react; we are not in a fire right now."
Alderman Seth Descant responded, "We don't want additional utilities. Grants are one-time funds and cannot sustain us over time. Nobody says thanks for not raising water rates over the past ten years. The rural water system analysis says we must be at a 1.15 rating to be where we need to be for grants. Previous boards and administrations should have done but did not. It is unfortunate, but it is what it is."
A vote was taken with Reed, Butler and Crain voting no to an ordinance and Dillon and Descant voting yes.
Mayor Sharp challenged the Board to come into his office and look at this before the next meeting. He added, "I won't sit here and watch the Town lose money. I will make cuts if I have to."
On a happier note, Randy Reed was congratulated on his daughter Savannah's graduation from LSU and move to medical school. Alderman Descant shared that the police department is currently working under budget and showing responsibility with funds. He appreciates the FPD.
Mayor Sharp ended the meeting noting that the water issue is “a hard pill to swallow but we have got to do it.” He announced that the budget will be introduced on September 22 and both the budget and amended budget will be voted on at the same time on October 13.
