Government

Franklin Tomorrow Goals and Strategies for Government as identified in 2011 Vision Fair process:

GOAL: To facilitate visionary leadership that fosters citizen involvement and cooperation with local area governments

Strategies:
1. Improve coordination between and among government entities, schools, private utilities and their respective staffs to discuss how to better facilitate the delivery of essential services and infrastructure
2. Create a Strategic Plan for the City of Franklin to be adopted by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen that will help focus and guide the community’s energy and resources toward common goals
3. Facilitate forums for public input on current issues facing local governments, including professional groups, targeted stakeholders and civic and business organizations
4. Utilize effective communication with citizens and monitor the methods used by local government to determine effectiveness
5. Host roundtable discussions among elected officials including city, county and school board members

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Aldermen approve plan to move
voters to even out wards

Franklin aldermen gave final clearance Jan. 10 to change where about 3,000 residents will vote, moving them from Ward 1 to Ward 2.

The proposal evens out the voting populations of the city’s four wards to comply with state law mandating elected officials must represent an equal number of residents.

Read more on this in an article by Kevin Walters of The Tennessean.

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Williamson Herald: City celebrates recycling success

Officials launch second year with new data

By Pam Horne
Staff Writer

Franklin residents considering participation in curbside recycling have an opportunity to join their neighbors and help cut the growing public cost associated with municipal waste.

The Blue Bag Recycling Program, which includes most household materials, except Styrofoam and glass, is moving into its second year.

City officials originally agreed to launch a three-year pilot program to gauge citizen response.

Read more on this story...

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Tennessean: Franklin's water supply violates state standards

Disinfectant byproduct levels still high

By Kevin Walters
Staff Writer

Even as Franklin and other cities wrestle with curbing the summer’s foul odors in their water supply, new test results show slightly higher annual average amounts of disinfectant byproducts in the city’s water for the second consecutive period.

Franklin’s water customers were notified that new quarterly tests show the city exceeded state maximum contaminant levels for haloacetic acids, which can occur when disinfectants such as chlorine come into contact with the organic and inorganic material found in the water.

Read more on this story...

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City of Franklin apologizes for taste, odor in city's drinking supply

7/20/11-The City of Franklin is apologizing to customers who have to experience the unusual taste and odor in our water system recently.

This is a natural occurrence in Middle Tennessee as water utilities in Nashville and surrounding areas are experiencing similar problems during this extremely hot summer. Although the water may smell unpleasant, it is safe to consume.

The Franklin Water Management department has stepped up the carbon treatment to address the algae bloom causing the odor and taste. We have also been flushing lines throughout the system to help get the affected water out of the system. We appreciate your patience while we work to alleviate the problem, it does take some time. If you still feel your problem is unusual, please call our Water Management Department at 794-4554 to report your problem and exact location in the City so that we can concentrate our efforts in affected areas.

Franklin Water Management Department has two sources of treated water. These sources include the Franklin Water Treatment Plant and the Harpeth Valley Utility District (HVUD). Changes to taste and odor were originally detected in the southern part of the city which is served primarily from the Franklin Water Treatment Plant. Plant staff has adjusted treatment to address this issue and crews have been flushing lines to remove affected water.

There have also been reports over the last two days that a similar taste and odor is being experienced in the northern parts of the district, primarily served with water purchased from HVUD. Their water is treated from the Cumberland River. This is consistent with the presence of algal blooms in the Cumberland River and reports of taste and odor issues in Nashville and surrounding areas. The Franklin Treatment Plant and the HVUD have both stepped up treatment with carbon to remove taste and odor associated with algae.