Infrastructure improvements continue over Franklin’s year

Franklin saw improvements in streets conditions and water plant equipment, among other areas, during the past year.
Mayor Raymond Harris said 2014 was “a quiet year but a good year” that was productive in various ways.
“We were able to finish some things,” he said. “There was the Iberia Street overlay across the railroad tracks. That was a good project. Another thing we did this year was put a roof over the (water plant) clarifiers hoping that would save on chemical costs.”
The roof shields the water tanks from sunlight and rain, which require chemical treatment to clarify. Harris said there were other projects at the city-run water plant.
The acquisition of the former E.A. Crowell Elementary gymnasium by the city, purchased from the St. Mary Parish School Board, will be the new home of St. Mary Council on Aging.
The building was given a facelift to ready it for use, Harris said. “I feel good about having them as neighbors and doing something of this magnitude for them,” he said.
The mayor said street overlay and patching was accomplished in late 2013 and into 2014, in what has become an annual effort by the city. Many miles of streets have been rehabbed over the last few years.
With $17,000 left over from the water-proofing of City Hall, the city was able to also give the council chambers a facelift, removing moldy sheet rock and other parts of the interior, repainting and renovating the appearance as well. “I like the way the room looks and feels,” Harris said.
Preliminary plans have been drawn for the future archive of Gov. Mike Foster and the papers of many others local residents who served in state and federal offices. That archive will be on the third floor.
Though there were some projects he hoped would happen in 2014, Harris hopes they’ll come to fruition this year. The mayor is hoping to accomplish some major drainage projects, including the south Willow Street area and Trueil and Florida streets. He also hopes to see the widening and deepening of the Yokely Canal get started this year.
The city also has plans for the first stages in renovation of the old Center Theater on Main Street.