Franklin takes aim at more abandoned houses

Two J.A. Hernandez structures will enter condemnation hearings after action by the Franklin City Council Tuesday.
City inspector Jean Paul Pellerin recommended that move after proceeding through the legal process for addressing derelict and abandoned properties.
The council appointed attorney Joseph Tabb to represent absent property owners of 615 and 619 J.A. Hernandez St. Efforts to reach the owners have failed.
The city has endeavored to address such properties for years and has successfully obtained renovation of derelict structures as well as demolitions.
Also Tuesday, the council signed off on a resolution in support of the sale of Cleco to an investment group led by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, together with John Hancock Financial.
Councilman Chuck Autin asked Cleco representative Steve Segura if the local office will remain open. Segura said it would, and that nothing about any of Cleco’s services would change.
Also, Councilman Dale Rogers asked about water intrusion on Willow Street during last weekend’s round of rainfall. Mayor Raymond Harris said the floodgate on the Franklin Canal was closed early and water pumped out from the inland side of the gate, but it was apparently not enough to accommodate the rainfall. He said in the future more water would be removed.
In other business Tuesday:
—An ordinance was introduced specifying terms of cemetery plot sale and use.
—Ordinances were adopted renewing sale of alcohol licenses, and “increase the minimum hourly rate charged for work contemplated.”
—Resolutions were approved on the 2014 Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Environmental Audit Report; to open a public bank account; and designating the days and times of the regular council meetings for 2016.
—The “First Thursday” event will be “Christmas Under the Lampposts” on Dec. 3.
—The city’s Christmas parade is set for Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.
—The next city cleanup is Dec. 12, 8 a.m., gathering at the Stage parking lot.