The Franklin Town Council met for its annual retreat Feb. 21 and 22 in Cope Hall at Andy’s Trout Farm in Otto. In addition to the six council members and Mayor Jack Horton, Town Manager Amie Owens, Finance Director Sarah Bishop and Board Clerk/Human Resources Director Nicole Bradley attended with board attorney John Henning joining on Saturday.
The Friday night session included a recap of accomplishments and items set as priorities for 2023-24 and a mid-year recap for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30.
In addition to continuing infrastructure improvements, the council had set the following for priorities in 2023-24: affordable housing, economic development, creating a walkable community (new and refurbished sidewalks), using the Whitmire property for recreation opportunities, and beautification.
“I feel like we touched on all of these – some more than others,” said Owens. Some items continue to be priorities this year and will be going forward into the new fiscal year.
Owens said alleyway improvements from Stewart Street to Main Street will begin this month. On Monday, March 3, Stewart Street was temporarily closed as town crews were repainting the parking spaces.
The council also talked about making Stewart Street one way, with traffic entering from Phillips Street. With the food truck now parked on the street, it has created a blind spot for vehicles and pedestrians at the driveway from the Palmer Street parking lot. It was also noted that people drive too fast for the narrow street. A public hearing on the proposed change will be held during the Town Council meeting on Monday, April 7.
Although Main Street is maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the town has been working with DOT to move forward with improvements to the street. DOT has Main Street on its calendar for repaving in 2027; however, Owens said later this spring the parking spaces will be realigned and restriped to maximize the number of parking spaces along Main Street.
Additionally, town crews will be restriping all public parking areas on Palmer Street and at Town Hall.
Mission and vision statement
In reconvening on Saturday morning, Owens began the discussion with one of the items she had suggested in January 2024 and again last September: developing a mission and vision. Owens has said she wants to know what the council’s vision is for the town so that she can better direct the work of the town staff to accomplish that. The council approved the following mission statement: Our mission is to preserve our town’s character while encouraging new opportunities that better the lives of all who call Franklin home.
The vision statement was approved as follows: Franklin is a vibrant town with healthy, active citizens and visitors, safe surroundings, sustainable businesses and services that support smart growth, invests in people and infrastructure and that honors heritage and creates opportunities.
Owens said the vision statement will help guide the work that needs to be done to achieve the town’s mission. She noted the statements can always be updated as the priorities for the town change over time.
Economic development
The council looked at possible incentives for businesses and will consider budgeting for that in the 2025-26 fiscal year. Some of the suggested incentives included grants for façade improvements, signs and design work, rent subsidies and reimbursement of fees for permits, inspections and reviews, water and sewer connections.
The council also agreed to have a committee work on developing a job description for a Main Street coordinator, which would not only work with the N.C. Main Street program, but also focus on economic development town wide. The coordinator position is in this year’s budget but has not been filled.
Other business
The council also approved the following during the Feb. 22 retreat:
• A design for the restrooms to be constructed at the Whitmire property. The town has received a $500,000 N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant to put toward building an inclusive playground on the property. Construction of the playground is expected to begin later this spring or early summer. However, Owens said they don’t want to open the playground without having restroom facilities. Restrooms and improved parking are part of the first phase of the recreation plan for the property, which already includes the skate park and disc golf course. The cost of the restrooms is expected to be about $200,000. “These are not cheap,” Owens said.
The estimated cost of the playground, restrooms and other improvements is estimated to be $1,174,762.91. After subtracting out the grant amount, the town will be responsible for $694,762.91 to be paid out of the General Fund. A Capital Project Ordinance was approved at the March 3 Town Council meeting.
• Expanding the number of members on the ABC Board from three to five. The Town Council approves appointments to the board, with ABC Board members serving three-year terms.
Mid-year financial update
Seven months into the current fiscal year, the town had collected $3,049,916.02 in ad valorem taxes as of Feb. 21. At that time there was an estimated 6.9% to collect (about $225,826.27), according to Bishop’s report. At the March 3 Town Council meeting, tax collector Sabrina Scruggs said she was sending 340 notices to advertise taxes if not paid by April.
Finance Director Sarah Bishop said sales tax collection is running about 12% over the year-over-year total. In her monthly report for the March council meeting, she reported sales tax was projected to come in $500,000 over the budgeted amount of $950,000. Sales tax collections for July-November totaled $736,718. Sales tax numbers run two months behind, so the February report did not include sales tax collection for the Christmas shopping season in December.
On the expense side, Bishop said 50.61% of the expense budget remains through June 30.
The Fire Department has 3.27% in revenue to collect by the end of June to meet the budget and 46.25% of the expense budget is remaining.
The Water Department has 44.15% of its budgeted revenue to collect and 50.27% of the expense budget remains.
During the retreat, Bishop also reminded the council they had adopted the Fund Balance Policy last year that requires the town to keep 80%-100% of its expenses in the fund balance with the remainder to be used for capital projects. That means there could be between $1 million and $2.1 million for the town to spend on capital projects. The policy provides a 36-month period in which to spend down the funds.
Town workforce
The town has 72 approved employee positions (70 full time and two part-time) plus 20 volunteer fire department members. There are currently three staff vacancies – two in the police department and one meter reader in the water department.
All jobs for the town have an hourly rate of at least $15 per hour, and last year the town implemented a step and grade policy that allows for incremental increases.
2025 events
Owens talked about the partnerships the town has with other organizations to offer community events in the coming year.
In 2024, the town took on the planning of Pickin’ on the Square, the popular live music event held at the gazebo on Town Square. Pickin’ will continue this year, beginning in May and will be held the second and fourth Saturday from 6-8 p.m. For the last show of the year, the town is partnering with the Arts Council of Macon County, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. On Oct. 11, the Arts Council will present Rocktober, a Motown-themed event.
Owens reported she has been meeting with Macon County and the Chamber of Commerce about the possibility of moving the fireworks back to the Rec Park on July 4. The town would still host the parade and children’s activities downtown. She said this is all still in the planning stages and has not been finalized.
PumpkinFest will be Oct. 19 and Winter Wonderland will be Nov. 29 and Dec. 6.