Jake Browning
reporter@thefranklinpress.com
Monday night’s Franklin Town Council meeting was the first for incoming members Michael Lewis and Jack Horton, and the last for outgoing members Brandon McMahan and Adam Kimsey.
Mayor Bob Scott, Lewis, Horton and reelected council members Dinah Mashburn and Joe Collins were all joined by their loved ones before a packed house as they took their oaths.
The new council members arrived at a busy time for the council, which heard major zoning requests, proposals on downtown celebrations, debates on how town employees accrue time off, reports on the future of Macon County transportation and updates on Franklin Fire and Rescue capital outlay projects [see page 2A].
It was a lot to take in on the first night, but Horton still felt he had the easy job compared to the rest of Macon County’s public servants.
“We get to sit back here behind the table and look at the pictures and the books and the papers and the numbers while they’re the ones out there getting all the work done,” Horton said. “I appreciate them doing that.”
Lewis also expressed his gratitude to the town, both its public servants and the voters who gave him his seat.
“I reiterate what Jack said about our employees, and I’m really looking forward to working with y’all,” Lewis said.
Scott opened the meeting by recognizing McMahan and Kimsey for their service to the board and the town over the past four years. Each member was presented with a plaque and their nameplate from the town council dais. While Scott has expressed his confidence in the new town council, he felt it was a sad moment to see the two leave.
“We’ve had a lot of fun together,” Scott told them. “I just want to say we’re going to miss both of you.”
Kimsey declined to run for reelection to his seat in this year’s municipal elections, citing his feelings that others should have the chance to impact their town government as well. McMahan did run for reelection but narrowly fell short of third place vote earner Horton. While he was disappointed by the result, McMahan voiced his support for the new council members before leaving the meeting.
“Congratulations to the newly elected,” McMahan said during the public session of the meeting. “It looks like y’all are jumping in both feet first and getting involved fast, so congratulations on that.”
Barbara McRae was unanimously voted the new council’s vice mayor. Collins, who expressed his admiration for her hard work and dedication to the town, nominated McRae.
“I’d like to make a motion that we have someone here who has shown heart and dignity and a lot of hard effort for the Town of Franklin in the past and I’m sure will going forward,” Collins said.
The next town council meeting will be held on Monday, Jan 6, 2020.