Beautifying the exterior of the Macon County Courthouse and clock tower in Franklin Town Square was a wish expressed during the July 11 Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Board Chair Paul Higdon asked Shirley Speed and Brenda Roughton to speak about the Franklin Garden Club and their efforts downtown.
Roughton said the garden club maintains Rankin Square, the Clock Tower Square, plus the planters in front of businesses downtown. Additionally, the club will soon start keeping up the rock garden at Bent Willow on East Palmer Street.
Higdon said he wanted to recognize the garden club for the work they do while at the same time pointing out that “the other side” of Town Square doesn’t look that great.
“We’ve discussed it with the town, and it’s just kind of hanging there,” Higdon said of the part of Town Square the garden club doesn’t upkeep, later commenting, “We need to spiff up the center of Macon County.”
Higdon said in the next few weeks, he wants to direct county staff to designate a person to improve the courthouse grounds, noting that roots are breaking through the sidewalk. Additionally, Higdon and Speed explained that the clock tower needs various repairs.
“I was trying to get a picture for Facebook, and I was trying to get a good side of that clock tower and there’s not a good side,” Roughton said.
Higdon implored anyone to reach out to the garden club to volunteer and help them, saying their work is heralded by locals and visitors alike.
Roughton said Men’s Challenge came out to help the garden club, saying they are the nicest young men who move big bags of mulch.
Molar Roller approved
The commissioners unanimously approved LifeLine Mobile’s bid of $700,419 for a new Molar Roller children’s dental clinic. This bid is under the $869,000 the county budgeted for the purchase in its 2023-24 budget, with most of those funds coming from Medicaid.
Population Health Section Administrator Jimmy Villiard said the Health Department received four bids by its May 31 deadline and, after a committee of seven looked over the bids, recommended LifeLine Mobile. Villiard said the unit is 53 feet long with an expandable side and will be “turn-key” with all the dental equipment needed. The timeline to receive the new Molar Roller is 18-24 months.
The current Molar Roller, purchased in 2003, has outdated equipment that can’t be replaced and has had multiple issues in recent years. Villiard said the current unit couldn’t go to Highlands anymore but would be used in the Franklin area.
Commissioner Josh Young said many teachers thanked him for keeping the Molar Roller funds in the 2023-24 budget, which was a source of contention during June budget talks. Young asked what about Nantahala kids, to which Villiard replied that those kids previously were bused down to Cartoogechaye when the Molar Roller would stop there. Villiard said Nantahala School couldn’t accommodate the Molar Roller.
County Finance Director Lori Carpenter estimates the current Molar Roller will be worth around $50,000 to $60,000 on GovDeals.com, a surplus when the new unit comes in.