Franklin Newsletter
October, 2004
CIVIC CENTER BUILDING COMMITTEE: Lloyd Arnold
of FEMA has given us the green light to build and has increased
our funding to $90 per square foot if bids come in that high.
Sunday, October 17, a special meeting was held of
the community council and colors of surfaces in the new community
center was decided upon. Color stains of the kitchen cabinets will be
decided later. We are getting custom made kitchen cabinets. The
community council is really excited about this very nice building and
hope to get started very soon. As soon as Rural Development of the
Department of Agriculture releases our plans, our architect can then
advertise for bids for the building. There will be a newspaper
announcement by the building chairman Joe Cukjati when the
groundbreaking ceremony takes place with the contractor and other
dignitaries.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The committee recommended that any
expenditures that exceed $100.00 has to be approved by the Community
Council Board. Discussed updates to the website. Also
updated the mission statement and duties of the advisory
council. It was discussed about putting flat stones as
property markers on the corner of 47 & 69 highway.
PARK: A ground breaking ceremony was held October 8 for the new
park. The work has begun on preparing the site for the
park. The tree bid was awarded to Affordable Tree
Service. Fox Construction received the bid for the
dirt work. They will be removing the old asphalt and foundations
and leveling the ground as well as removing the stumps from the
trees. A walking path will be placed in the front area.
Future projects will be a bocce court, horseshoe pit, shelter area and
playground equipment.
We are asking for suggestions for names for the
park. Please send in your suggestion with your water payment or
call Phyllis at 347-8387 or 249-9333. We will be voting on
this at the November meeting. Some suggestions have been:
Maghe Park (in memory of Josephine Maghe),
John L. Lewis Park (he was the head of the United Mine Workers Union)
Community Park
Please send us your suggestions. A sign
will be placed at the front of the park which will include the name of
the park along historical artifacts from the old school and church and
a placque with names of contributors to the rebuilding in
Franklin.
WELCOME SIGN - Property at 47 & 69: Still waiting on the deed
for the property from the State. Sign is ready to be placed
at that location as soon as the deed is recorded.
WATER: We should have the bid packet approval finalized by end of
next week and will be ready for the letting of bids.
SEWER: : The final design is complete and the county is in the process
of collecting easements and collecting information on a timeline for
completion.
POST OFFICE: It was decided by the Council not to pursue the post
office reconstruction and proposal offered. It was not cost effective
for the community to operate and maintain a facility to house the post
office. Notification was presented to post office officials of the
decision and left the future of the post office in the hands of those
officials. To date we have not heard on any final decisions of whether
or not they will reopen in Franklin.
HERITAGE COMMITTEE: If you have a true interest in seeing
the history of Franklin documented and are interested in joining the
newly formed Heritage Committee please contact Phyllis at 347-8387 or
249-9333. The committee was formed to help with the
preservation of the community’s historical items and stories.
Three grants have been applied for that would aid in
performing the research as well as materials used in those functions
Paperwork has been completed on listing the Franklin
sidewalk on the State Historical Register (per vote of the council and
response from a questionnaire in the water bills). No
response has been received from the state yet and I assume this will be
a lengthy project involving a lot of paperwork. We have
been in contact with some organizations on helping us with restoring
the sidewalk.
We have received several historical items which will
be used in a variety of displays either at the park or the new
community hall. If you have anything please let us know so
we can make arrangements to pick it up and make room for a display. In
addition to the wonderful historical items from St. Philip’s church we
also have a blackboard from the old grade/high school, bricks from the
school, a stock certificate from Mariotti-Angeli store as well as other
paperwork that relate to early stores in the area. Don’t think
that anything you have isn’t important. It is!! Future
generations will be most grateful to have these historic items
displayed for all to enjoy.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL: The community council will be changing the
meeting dates and times to the second Sunday of each month. This will
allow for the water district and community council meeting to be on
same evening. It will allow board and committee members of each
to reduce the amount of time spent in meetings and be more efficient.
TREES: The tree planting will start after the first frost and
when the trees lose their leaves. . Anyone wanting a tree or trees
should sign the following and return to Joe Cukjati, 115 North
Broadway, Franklin, Ks. 66735.
Land owners wanting tree
__________________________________________________
Address of
landowner______________________________________________________
Description of where address
is:______________________________________________
How many trees
wanted?___________________________________________________
Do you want an oak, maple or
ash?__________________________________________
What size tree would you prefer on trunk
diameter_______________________________
Telephone number___________________________
Cell telephone number___________________________
**We will contact you to get map of where you want new tree on your
property. Please have map ready to indicate exact spot. Mark exact spot
with stake. It must be accessible by large truck getting to area.