Franklin Newsletter
March, 2005
This issue of the newsletter is to put to
rest rumors, gossip and incorrect information. If you have other
items you have heard and would like to know the facts please contact
one of the board or committee members listed below and we will try to
find the answers.
Franklin Community Council, Inc. (also known as FCCI) was formed
shortly after the tornado. FCCI is a non-profit corporation. It
is NOT a governing body. The Crawford County Commission is the
governing body for Franklin. Any individual can go before them
and ask for anything they need. FCCI was formed to assist the
community’s rebuilding process. Someone had to deal with the
government paperwork and oversee the projects. In all
likelihood there would be no community hall, no park or any other of
the major rebuilding projects that are taking place. Who
would have done all the paperwork? You cannot envision the stacks
of papers and meetings that were necessary just to see that there is a
chance there would be a community hall, community park, storm siren,
post office, etc. Who would have met with the government entities
to see that this happened?
FCCI is open to anyone within the boundaries of Water District
#7. Anyone is welcome at any meetings and is welcome to make
suggestions, run for office, become a member of a committee or to help
in any way. All the records of the corporation are open to the
public. Just make a written request to FCCI, P. O. Box 43,
Franklin, Ks. 66735-0043
FCCI is working on projects that will benefit the entire
community. Every member is a volunteer. NO ONE
receives payment for their services. All the hours of work
is strictly volunteer. The next time you see a member of the
council cleaning up grounds, mowing grass, attending meetings, writing
letters, preparing government paperwork, etc. take a moment to thank
them for their dedication as they receive nothing for their work except
your thanks and knowing they are working for the betterment of the
community. If you have an hour or two to spare each month contact
one of the board or committee members and offer to help.
Donations have come from various sources including private donations,
grants and government programs. All of this money is safely
in an account either through Pittsburg Area Community Foundation (who
has been very helpful to us) and our own bank account. The
majority of the money is with PACF. Every penny is accounted for
and most has not been spent yet. The Paul Newman money that
was donated is still in the account. The Pritchett Grant is still
in the account but will soon be paid mostly to Fox Construction for all
the work done at the park. We have received another grant
from the Pritchett Foundation which will give us funds to lay the
walking path in the park and perhaps do another small project within
the park. Bids are taken on all large projects and we have
worked to make sure that we receive the most benefit from every dollar
donated or granted. Money is not spent frivolously or for
unnecessary items.
The Vignatelli property was NOT donated to Franklin Community Council,
Inc. as was reported on KOAM. We received a nice note of
apology from the TV station admitting their error. The
property was purchased by Franklin Community Council, Inc.
PARK: The application for rezoning has been approved by the
Crawford County Commissioners at their March 4, 2005 meeting. A
large portion of the dirt work has been completed and soon the next
phase of the project will begin.
There has been a lot of interest in the paver project at the
park. Please get your forms turned in so your paver will be
included in the first order. The pavers are not meant only to be
a memorial to deceased loved ones. You can have a paver cast with your
family name on it, a special event, (anniversary, birthday, etc).
There is no deadline and this will be an ongoing project however we’ll
be sending in the first order soon so please be sure to get your forms
in to be included in the first laying of the pavers.
WELCOME SIGN: As you may have noticed work is being done on the
corner. Once again, this is all volunteer work. The State of Kansas
donated the ground to FCCI. The sign will be placed
as soon as the weather permits. As you may have read in the paper a
light is being placed at the corner on the curve. This was
done at the request of FCCI. A request was also made to
place a “littering” sign which the state has agreed to do.
HERITAGE COMMITTEE: Please try to search your memory for facts
about the sidewalk and when it appeared in the Guinness Book of World
Records. The State needs more information before
considering the application to place it on the Historic Register.
If the sidewalk receives that award there are grants available that
would pay to have the sidewalk rebuilt. Contact Phyllis at
347-8387 if you have any information..
COMMUNITY HALL: Groundbreaking was held February 26 at 10
am. Work has begun with an anticipated 180 day schedule for
completion. There is no way to calculate the number of volunteer
hours spent planning this building. Rumors have been abundant
about how much money is being spent on the building and that it will
resemble the Taj Mahal. Those are all untrue. While
the cost of the building appears to be very expensive FCCI has worked
to cut costs in any way possible. Most of the items have
been requirements from the government since a large portion of the
money is coming from them. There have not been choices on
some items. They are mandated by the government. For
those who have not been to a meeting or the picnic to see the
plans, the building will be similar to the old hall with the
exception of a meeting room which will also be the heritage
room. There will be a main room with dance area and
tables, a kitchen, 2 baths, the meeting room and an entry
way. Costs of steel and other items have increased since
the time of the tornado which brought the price even
higher. Anyone is welcome to see the plans at any
time.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Be watching for more information about
the Community picnic May 7, 2005, 4 pm.
Don’t forget about the endowment fund which has been established which
will allow an opportunity to leave a lasting tribute to the
community. Please keep FCCI in mind when leaving a memorial
in lieu of flowers for a deceased loved one. Tell your friends
and relatives who no longer live in Franklin about the endowment
fund. This money will remain in a managed fund and the interest
will be used to maintain the properties owned by FCCI (Hall, Park,
Welcome Sign). Keep the spirit of Franklin alive for years to come.
WATER BOARD: The Annual Election meeting for RWD #7 will be held
April 10,2005 at 6 pm. There is one seat open and that will be
Treasurer who currently is Jim Rheums. Henry Ashbacher & Mike
Ashbacher will be attending the KRWA conference in Wichita. RWD
#7 bills are due by the 10th of the month (not postmarked on the 10th)
but received by the 10th to avoid a 10% penalty fee.
SEWER: Michael Kramer , Kramer Engineering and Dale Yaeger,
USDA Rural Development attended the FCCI meeting on March
6. They answered many questions and put to rest some rumors
that had been floating around. It appears there is a possibility
of the project starting shortly after the first of the year. FCCI
volunteers will be contacting property owners about signing an easement
for the sewer project. Please help us get them completed on a timely
basis so we can move forward with this project
Board of Directors
Robert Craig Stokes, Director, (President), 620-347-8519,
rcstokes@ckt.net
Henry Ashbacher, Director, (Vice-President), 620-347-4070,
h_ashbacher@hotmail.com
Veda Maxwell, Director, (Secretary/Treasurer), 620-347-4747,
proudpackerfan@yahoo.com
Tammy Wayman, Director, (Council Clerk), 620-347-4829,
tammywayman@ckt.net
Margaret Kennedy, Director, 620-347-4358
Joe Cukjati, Director, 620-347-4311, cukjatifarm@ckt.net
Norine Laird, Director, 620-347-4453, laird@ckt.net
Frances O'Blak, Director, 620-347-4312
Ray Hamblin, Director, 620-347-4228, srhamblin@yahoo.com
Kevin Mitchelson, Attorney, 620-231-4650
Committee Members
Civic Center Bldg. Comm. Joe Cukjati, Chairperson, 620-347-4311,
cukjatifarm@ckt.net
Civic Center Committee Ted Wynn, Chairperson, 620-347-4040,
twyn@ckt.net
Advisory Committee Dianna Morrision, Chairperson, 620-347-8807,
wrmorrision@ckt.net
Planning/Land Use Committee Henry Ashbacher, Chairperson, 620-347-4070,
h_ashbacher@hotmail.com
Park Committee Ray Hamblin, Chairperson, 620-347-4228,
srhamblin@yahoo.com
Heritage Committee Phyllis Bitner, Chairperson, 620-347-8387,
memrylane@yahoo.com