Franklin
swears in new council members and mayor
By Gregory
Aullman
February 11, 2008 | FRANKLIN, Idaho --For the city
of Franklin, January represented more new beginnings
than simply writing '08 at the end of checks.
January brought new faces to the City Council meetings
and new leaders to some of the most important political
positions the town has to offer.
A new mayor, Wayne Priestley, was sworn in with unanimous
acceptance, and two of the five council members were
replaced with Roy Waddoups and Todd Hawkes, taking the
places of Bob Saxton and Linda Hampton. With a 50 percent
change in leadership taking place, Franklin heads into
a new year behind a leadership that can present new
ideas and directions the town can head.
With all the changes taking place there were still
the monthly details to be hashed out by the newly sworn
in officiators, with a lot of the focus of the meeting
being directed at maintenance of existing city elements.
One of the issues that seems to be shrouding every
city through the valley and covering most of northern
Utah is the question of how to improve air quality.
While Frankin lacks a large industrial sector and its
pollutants, the city shows a larger care for the surrounding
area and humanity as a whole by taking time to discuss
ways to reduce the pollution they do cause.
Other council business involved discussions on snow
removal along U.S. 91, which runs through Franklin,
and also more convenient places to push the snow so
it doesn't get pushed from a business to the road and
back into the business.
Another item put forth by Mayor Priestley was a wastewater
treatment seminar to be held in Pocatello on Jan. 17.
Priestly said he wil be attending the meeting and asked
if anyone else would like to go with him, to which he
got one no and two maybes.
Another water issue discussed was the purchase and
use of $1,600 worth of solenoids to be used to care
for the water supply. The solenoids are used to help
ease the residual damage done to the water compressor,
which should prolong the life of a more expensive piece
of equipment that is vital to the town.
The city is also experiencing growth in terms of housing
as two houses are currently being built with a third
awaiting inspection for approval. The city has been
working on the lift station to fix it, but weather was
holding them back from getting it finished.
The mayor expressed his desire to be able to serve
to the best of his ability, and opened the floor for
other comments. When no other comments were forthcoming
the meeting was adjourned.
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