The plan for a new playground at the Whitmire property is moving another step forward.
Construction of the $1.15 million inclusive playground is expected to begin in mid-August. At the July 7 Franklin Town Council meeting, the board approved spending $49,645 for design, engineering and permitting of the restroom building at the park.
Town Manager Amie Owens said they did not want to open the park without having the restrooms available. When the skate park on the property opened in 2023, the town had portable toilets placed at the site.
Council members David Culpepper and Joe Collins said they thought the price tag was too high. “That seems like a lot of money for drawings,” Culpepper said. “Me spending my own money, I want to see something in the ground for $50,000.”
Owens explained it just wasn’t the design for the building but also the plumbing because there isn’t water and sewer on the site currently. “They have to engineer all those connections up there as well,” she said. Construction of the building is estimated to be $200,000.
“They’re somewhat manipulating the system so that they can charge each town $50,000 for a set of plans that cost $5,000,” Culpepper said. “I’m not saying we don’t have to do it. I’m saying something’s happening here that we’re getting abused for extra money that I don’t think we should have to spend on something that’s this easy.”
Culpepper went on to say the town’s water and sewer department is capable of doing the work. “That is not above our pay grade to put in water and sewer.”
Attorney John Henning said because the project costs over $135,000 the plans must be stamped by an architect or engineer.
Owens said they could go through the RFP process, and it could come back costing the same and it would delay the start of the project. By using the town’s existing contract with Dewberry Engineers they could have the designs back in time to start construction of the restrooms about the same time the playground construction starts. The playground is the first part of a multi-phase plan for the Whitmire property, located off First Street.
Council member Rita Salain made the motion to approve. Mike Lewis said, “I don’t like it, but I’m going to second it.” Salain, replied, “I don’t like it either.” In a 4-1 vote, the council approved the task order. Culpepper cast the opposing vote with Collins and Robbie Tompa joining Salain and Lewis voting in favor. Vice Mayor Stacy Guffey was not present and was given an excused absence.
Following that vote, the council unanimously approved a change order for the Wilkie Street sewer line replacement project, which has been completed. The cost was decreased by $65,425 for a final total of $631,293.75.
Public hearings
The council set two public hearings to be held at the Aug. 4 meeting.
One will be on the conditional rezoning request for a four-acre property at 100 Cunningham Road. At the June Franklin Planning Board meeting, David Forkner presented a plan for a new 23,000-square-foot fitness center that would include Danny Antoine’s Martial Arts Academy, an after school center and Kavod Fitness. The property is already zoned C-3 commercial; the conditional zoning is needed because the proposed building is larger than the 15,000 square feet allowed in that zone.
The second public hearing will be for the voluntary annexation of property located at 3044 Georgia Road. Bohorquez Commercial Properties is the owner of the property and building, which is next door to the Thai Paradise restaurant.
A second voluntary annexation that was on the agenda was moved to closed session. The request was from Darrell Mason, owner of 4029 Sylva Road (the Marathon on the 441 Bypass). According to the “Certificate of Sufficiency” report, water is near the property and could be available, but there is no sewer availability. When coming out of closed session, Mayor Jack Horton said they needed additional information before setting the public hearing on the request.
Council stipend increase
The council approved the resolution to increase the stipend for the mayor and council members; the $200 increase per position/per month was included in the 2025-26 budget and will start Jan. 1. The stipend has not been increased since 2008. The new annual amounts are $6,000 per council member; $7,200 for the vice mayor and $9,600 for the mayor.
The next Franklin Town Council meeting will be Monday, Aug. 4, beginning at 6 p.m. in the board room on the lower level of Town Hall.