Adam Kimsey was sworn into office as a Franklin Town Council member at the the first meeting of the new year on Jan. 3. The council appointed Kimsey to serve the remaining two years of the seat previously held by Jack Horton, who was elected mayor in November.
New Vice Mayor Joe Collins nominated Kimsey to serve on the council. The nomination was approved unanimously at a called meeting on Dec. 13.
“I’m semi-surprised and honored to be chosen,” Kimsey said in an interview prior to Monday’s meeting. “I will fill out Jack’s seat the best I can.”
Kimsey is not a stranger to the council, having served from 2015-2019. During his term, the council was faced with filling a vacancy on the board when Billy Mashburn was elected posthumously in 2017. At the time, the next highest vote-getter expressed interest in serving, but ultimately the council voted to appoint Mashburn’s wife Dinah to the seat. Kimsey said he recognizes the irony that he was the one person to vote against appointing Mashburn rather than going with the next highest vote getter.
Kimsey first ran for office in 2013 but did not get elect ed; he was elected on his second run in 2015. He said he ran because there wasn’t a lot of engagement with people in their 20s and 30s. “It was more of a drive to get people in my age demographic interested and engaged in their local municipal government process.”
Public participation is still a focus for him, and he wants people to feel like they can approach him. “You’re welcome, everyone is welcome, all ideas are welcome.” He would like to see more public interest and suggested holding community-driven feedback sessions to get public input on issues facing the town.
Kimsey grew up in Franklin, graduated from Franklin High School in 2004 and has been owner of Rathskeller since 2013. As a downtown business owner, he understands the importance of creating an environment where businesses can be successful. Many businesses struggled after COVID hit. “It was almost a year that businesses had to do what they could.”
He said businesses need adequate infrastructure including utility service, good streets and walkable sidewalks, as well as an understanding of current laws, regulations and resources that can assist businesses.
During his previous term on the council, he said the town embarked on a redevelopment program and he wants to keep the ball rolling with that. He sees the top issues for the town being infrastructure (general facilities, water, sewer, sidewalks, roads) and continuing to improve walking and biking opportunities.
He said there will be some unique challenges with the recent demographic changes. “I have never seen as many people move here at one time as in the past year.” He sees affordable housing for renters and buyers and staffing for businesses as some of the issues for newcomers as well as long-time residents.
Reviewing current laws and ordinances is another task he says the council must be responsible for. “We need to keep an eye on those things and make sure they are adequate for what we are trying to do.”
He thinks the town’s decision to hire a code enforcement officer is a good idea, “but I don’t envy that person.”
His overall vision is to see the town be “economically sustainable,” and he wants to help preserve the culture, history and environment of the area.