Compromise reached on farmer’s market location
The Franklin Town Council approved on Feb. 3 a contract to build an inclusive playground on the Whitmire property.
The $1,159,232.05 contract with Carolina Parks and Play, LLC includes the playground equipment and installation.
In 2024, the town received a $500,000 grant from the state’s Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to help pay for the playground. The playground is the first phase of a plan for the Whitmire property, located off First Street in East Franklin. In addition to the playground, this phase will include restrooms, improved parking and sidewalks. Town crews will provide some of the work.
The terms of the grant require that the town spend the money and then get reimbursed. The town’s share for the balance of the contract will be paid from the general fund balance, according to Town Manager Amie Owens. A capital project ordinance will be presented at the March 3 council meeting.
“I was very pleased to make the motion to approve the contract for the inclusive playground and once completed, I hope children of all abilities will enjoy it for years to come,” said Council member Mike Lewis. “The playground is the first of its kind in Macon County and part of a multi-year plan for the Whitmire property, including an outdoor amphitheater and other recreational opportunities.” Additionally, there has been discussion about having a residential/retail development on the property.
Owens said they hoped to have construction finished by June 30, but it will depend on the delivery of the playground equipment and good weather for construction. She said the contract will be for 240 days, but the company feels they can complete it sooner.
“However, we didn’t want to rush it and have it not done the correct way,” Owens said. “We want to give them enough time to get this done, to get it done right, to make sure that we have our restrooms in, as well as the connecting sidewalks and the parking areas.”
Mayor Jack Horton said there may be some partners that want to share in the project and their contributions could help reduce the town’s cost.
The Town Council unanimously approved the contract with Carolina Parks and Play, LLC with payments to be made in three installments.
Farmers Market
At the January Town Council meeting there were some concerns expressed about ongoing street closures impacting Main Street businesses. The council asked the business owners and the Macon County Farmer’s Market to work toward a compromise for a farmers market location. Last year was the first year for the market, which set up on Iotla Street each Saturday from May-November. Phillips Street was also closed on Saturdays for the Phillips Street Market and the Artisan Alley market.
Owens said the farmer’s market has agreed to set up in the Town Hall parking lot. They may also set up tents on the front lawn if needed to help draw attention to the market. The market will not be set up on the Saturday of PumpkinFest as that space is used for other activities that day.
Mayor Jack Horton commended Owens for her efforts in working to help the groups reach a compromise. “She worked with those folks and worked it out, I think, a reasonable compromise so that everybody will be able to maximize their visibility and hopefully their sales and not create a problem for anyone else.”
Owens said, “It was a group effort. Everybody made some compromises and discussed it and weighed it out and measured out parking lots. It was well thought out.”
Council member Rita Salain said, “This was something that I am very glad that we’ve got a compromise on, because I’d hate for the vendors or the merchants to really have a bad feeling. I think of this sort of as an opportunity to see how it goes, and then we’ll evaluate it at the end of this season.”
The council also approved allowing the Artisans Alley craft market to use the Town Hall parking lot on the first and third Saturday in March and April.
“The representatives from Artisan Alley have been fantastic to be compromising with us to try to work out things moving forward,” Owens said, adding that the event organizers will look for another location once the farmer’s market begins operating in May.
The council also approved the following street closures:
• Saturday, April 5: The left lane of Main Street from Patton Avenue to the mid-block cross walk will be closed from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. for National Tartan Day. This will be for an event for the Scottish Tartans Museum.
• Saturday, June 14: Main Street, Phillips Street and Stewart Street will be closed from 7:30 a.m.-10 a.m. for the annual Braveheart 5K and Rob Roy Fun Run. The finish line will be moved to Stewart Street due to the farmers market being set up in the Town Hall parking lot. This will be the 10th year for the annual fundraiser for the Scottish Tartans Museum.
Guffey address residency question
Vice Mayor Stacy Guffey addressed an anonymous letter that was sent to The Franklin Press questioning if Guffey and County Commissioner Danny Antoine lived in their respective districts. Town Council members must live within the town limits and commissioners must live in the district they represent. Antoine represents District 2 on the Macon County Board of Commissioners.
The Press has contacted Antoine and verified that he still lives in District 2.
Guffey said normally he would let such anonymous comments go. “Sometimes you’ve got to answer these things because I think there are a lot of good people that would probably run for these offices and do a good job, but they don’t because of baseless attacks like these.”
Guffey then made a presentation showing photos documenting his residency at 88 East Main Street, Apartment B, on the upper floor of the building he owns. The Scottish Tartans Museum is located on the street level. There are additional businesses located in the basement that front Stewart Street and he has renovated four apartments on the top floor.
Guffey said he borrowed the town’s measuring wheel and found that it is 219 feet, or approximately 249 steps, from his bed to the council chambers.
“The convenience is normally a good thing, except for when the town manager or some of the other staff can see that I’m at home and they need something,” Guffey said. He noted that almost on a daily basis when he comes out his front door on Main Street, people stop him to complain or talk about town issues.
The building is registered to Revitalize Franklin, “a name that proved to be too ambitious,” Guffey said. “I own Revitalize Franklin, so I am the landlord and the tenant.” He showed photos of his power bill and other mail.
The letter writer alleged that Guffey lived off Riverbend Road. Guffey said that is where his fiancée lives. “I do occasionally spend the night with my fiancée,” Guffey said. “But she’d be shocked to find out that I reside there. She recently pointed out that I don’t even have a toothbrush there.”
Guffey then went on to share how over the past 15 years he has been working to piece together the farm that has been in his family for more than 130 years and that he occasionally spends time at the farm located in the Brendletown area. He showed photos of his granddaughter playing on the farm.
“This farm is very important to me. I’m deep in debt trying to put it back together, but it’s well worth it because it’s a debt I’m paying for my grandkids and great-grandkids.”
Guffey said the letter writer could easily have reached out to him as his contact information is posted on the town’s website. He concluded his presentation with a quote from his grandmother and saying that he would run for re-election this year.
“Mamaw said a lot of wise things, and one thing she said, ‘You know you’re doing something good when they start coming after you.’ With that in mind, I want to thank you, Mr. Anonymous, because you have doubled my resolve to do everything I can in the service of the people of the town of Franklin for as long as they’ll have me. I was unsure about what I was going to do this year, but you have convinced me that I should run again.”
Upcoming meetings
The Town Council will meet in a joint session with the Macon County Board of Commissioners and the Highlands commissioners at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. The council will hold its annual retreat at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 and continuing at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at Andy’s Trout Farm in Otto. The next regular meeting will be at 6 p.m. Monday, March 3 in the board room on the lower level of Town Hall.