Derelict properties addressed

Four properties were addressed by the Franklin City Council Tuesday.
Building Official Jean Paul Pellerin presented recommendations for action on properties at 1035 Cayce St., 402 Hamilton St., 500 Sixth St. and 502 Sixth St.
The council moved to condemn the remains of the Cayce Street property and give the owner 30 days to demolish and remove debris.
An attorney was appointed to represent property owners of the Hamilton Street and 500 Sixth St. properties.
The owner of 502 Sixth St. was given 30 days to demolish the structure and remove the debris.
The council introduced ordinances to enter into a cooperative agreement with St. Mary Landmarks for the use of Grevemberg House in city park; and to impose a tax on insurance premiums as authorized by state statute.
An ordinance was approved creating Franklin Economic Development Dist. 1 under state statute; and another declaring surplus and movable property for auction.
The council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to negotiate and possibly authorize a lease-purchase agreement for water meter and reading upgrades in the amount of $1,635,785.
Dr. Gail Hamilton spoke on St. Mary Parish Project Connect, an adolescent and young adults training meeting set for Aug. 20 at Lighthouse Missionary Baptist Church on Barrow Street. The event will seek input from the community on a number of issues including “educating the community on the problem and develop solutions to keep our adolescents and young adults productively engaged, which in turn will result in reductions in high risk sexual behavior and thus lower rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.” For more information contact Hamilton at 337-578-7885 or Leroy Willis at 985-518-0281.