Local organizations address city council

Local organizations addressed the Franklin City Council during their regular meeting Tuesday.
Judith Allain, Techeland Arts Council, said the group will hold a story-gathering session at the Bayou Vista Community Center on Feb. 27 beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Members of the Colquitt, Georgia “Swamp Gravy” live stage production group will conduct the workshop. There is no entry fee and the public is invited to attend.
Techeland Arts Council has adopted the Georgia concept of creating stage plays based on local area history, folklore and collective memories.
Aimee Guidroz and Brandon Trahan, Operation Every Child Matters, asked for support from the community in helping children who endure the trauma of being moved to foster care.
They are asking for donations to purchase duffel bags and stuffed animals for these children. Trahan said items such as these, which the children identify as theirs, often help soothe a youngster during such a traumatic experience.
Guidroz said a $10 donation would pay for a duffel and $20 would pay for a duffel and a stuffed animal. A $30 donation would accommodate two children.
Contact Trahan at 337-578-3991 or Guidroz at 337-578-3677.
Brittany’s Project will hold its annual car show and fundraiser event March 19, according to a spokesperson. The cruise will be held the night before, followed by a gathering on Teche Drive. The city council lifted the open alcohol container law for the Teche Drive event.
The main event is held at the Brittany’s Project site near the Oaklawn Bridge.
A representative of Stansbery and Stansberry Productions announced a For the Love of Family gospel stage play production written and directed by Patricia Williams-Stansberry at the Franklin High School Auditorium on March 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Franklin Foundation Hospital Chief Executive Officer Craig Cudworth, Chief Financial Officer Ron Bailey, Chief Nursing Officer Frank Corcoran Jr. and Dawn Kaiser-Melancon, Director of Marketing and Business Development gave a presentation on the hospital’s goals and achievements.
Kaiser-Melancon mentioned strategic planning and goals to “provide the best patient experience possible.”
She said meeting the needs of patients, staff expertise and placement and many other aspects of FFH’s service to the community play into the overall plan.
Corcoran and Bailey outlined many of the patient care and administrative efforts the hospital utilizes to serve Hospital Service District No. 1.
Cudworth, acting CEO at FFH, said many physicians are approaching retirement and efforts are being made to bring in doctors to take their place; he said the hospital develops practice opportunities and improvement and also resolves “relationship problems between medical staff and administration, which has been there for quite a while.”
Organizational objectives include business and growth plans, Cudworth said, and developing relationships with other hospitals. “We don’t want the hospital to be owned by outside” interest, he said. FFH is making relationships with other facilities to provide services that FFH does not.
In other business:
—The council introduced two ordinances on the revised current year and proposed upcoming year finance and capital outlay budgets.
—Approved appointment of Brittany R. Thomas to the Zoning Board of Adjustments.
—The “First Thursday March Madness in Historic Franklin” will be held March 3.