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New Franklin City Council swears in new alderperson, votes on use of ARPA funds

Amy Wilder, Staff Reporter
Posted 10/20/21

The New Franklin City Council swore in Leslie Lyon to represent the city’s second ward at its regular monthly meeting on Monday, October 11. All members of the council except Marybeth Sokolski …

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New Franklin City Council swears in new alderperson, votes on use of ARPA funds

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The New Franklin City Council swore in Leslie Lyon to represent the city’s second ward at its regular monthly meeting on Monday, October 11. All members of the council except Marybeth Sokolski were present. Lyon was sworn in by City Administrator and Clerk Melissa Crowley at the beginning of the meeting.

The council unanimously voted to approve the use of $25,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the purchase and installation of grinder pumps for the city’s sewer system. Approved uses of ARPA funds include water and sewer systems, which have seen increased use and strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

There has also been an increase in the use of flushable wipes, which have a detrimental effect on smaller city systems. “We’re having some major issues,” Mayor Robbie Harvey told the Council. “These wet wipes that people are throwing in - we can’t keep them from clogging the setup.”

The city has already had to rebuild one grinder pump, but the current setup is unable to keep up with the system, according to Harvey. When the wet wipes enter the impeller, he said, “it causes that motor to get a little warm, and the system kicks it off.

“This is another reason we’re losing people,” he added. Cleaning out the pumps “is not a nice job, I can tell you.”

The City of New Franklin has received just over $105,000 in ARPA funds so far, and expects more. The city is limited in how it may spend these funds. Upgrades and repairs to water and sewer infrastructure are permissible, as these systems have been significantly impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with increased numbers of people staying at home during the day. 

The council heard the reading of a new ordinance which designates the Mayor as new FEMA flood plain manager. The ordinance was drafted by city attorney Greg Robinson. 

The body of the ordinance as read by Crowley is as follows: “Bill number 1007.2021 Ordinance Number 801: An Ordinance Designating a Flood Plain Administrator. Whereas the City of New Franklin requires an ordinance designating a Flood Plain Administrator. Therefore, be it ordained by the board of aldermen of the City of New Franklin as follows. Whereas the City of New Franklin needs a Flood Plain Administrator to comply with Federal regulations, the seated Mayor, or his designee, shall be the Flood Plain Administrator for the City of New Franklin. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from, and after, its passage by the Board of Alderman.”

The board waived a second reading of the ordinance. The board then voted unanimously to accept the ordinance as written. 

A representative of Shulte Supply, Inc., attended the meeting to present a bid for the city about its Neptune Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) water meters. These meters use automated two-way communications technology that would allow city employees to digitally collect accurate meter readings each month without having to physically read the meter. This would improve billing accuracy for the city; when weather conditions are bad, an average is often used instead of an updated reading and this can sometimes cause bills to fluctuate. The city council plans to hear more proposals before making a decision.

The New Franklin city council meets regularly at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. Meetings are open and the public is invited.

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