The City of New Franklin is taking aim at nuisance properties. City employees will begin identifying problem residences and the city will send out warning letters to property owners.

At their regular monthly meeting on Monday, June 15, aldermen discussed several houses on Boyd and Chancellor Streets that have trash built up and unkempt lawns.

“It’s getting out of control,” said Ward 2 Alderman James Painter. “I want to figure out what can be done.”

Howard County Sheriff Jeff Oswald advised the city to take to photos of the properties in question and send letters. “If it doesn’t get fixed, we’ll follow up with tickets,” he said.

The City of New Franklin began contracting with the Howard County Sheriff’s Department in May for law enforcement coverage.

City Attorney Greg Robinson explained that once the police are involved, a summons to appear in court is issued to the home’s owner, rather than the tenant. 

Aldermen agreed to go after what they consider to be the worst properties first, with the hopes that others in town will follow suit.

In other business Monday, the city council passed the fiscal year 2021 budget, heard from a concerned citizen regarding the condition of Court Street, and praised the Sheriff’s Department for its law enforcement. 

Harold Kerr provided several photos of a two-block area of Court Street he said was in terrible disrepair. Ward 2 Alderman Robbie Harvey, who as Mayor pro tem, served as the acting Mayor on Monday in the absence of Mayor Newton Arbogast, said the council would take it under advisement. The problem, Harvey said, is that the city just doesn’t have enough money in the general fund to adequately repair the street. 

“There is no money in the general fund,” said Harvey. “We’re working on solving that. We’ve got three other streets that are really bad.”

Sheriff Oswald reported that his department responded to around 60 calls to New Franklin in May, and made more than 20 traffic stops. “It’s been a good first month. It hasn’t been overwhelming.”

The Sheriff’s Department is contracted to provide 40 hours per week of law enforcement service to New Franklin. Oswald said the department exceeded that number in May.

Harvey said the police presence has made a big difference. “We don’t know what car is going to be down here or who’s going to be here. I don’t think anybody knows where you’re going to be. I’ve seen you everywhere. It’s got them thinking.”

The next meeting of the New Franklin City Council will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 12, in City Hall. Meetings are open and the public is invited.