By John Estridge Franklin County Commissioners Tom Linkel and Gerald Wendel gave authorization to fellow commissioner Tom Wilson and his road foreman Kent Ruf to seek a replacement for the county’s dump truck recently destroyed by fire at the Oldenburg garage. Wilson was not present at the Tuesday morning, February 9, meeting because he was …
Category Archives: Franklin County Commissioners
One FC highway truck destroyed another damaged as well as the Oldenburg garage in early morning fire
By John Estridge An early morning fire at the Franklin County Highway Department Oldenburg garage destroyed one county truck as well as damaging another truck and part of the building. According to Franklin County Commissioner Tom Wilson, who is over District 3, which includes Oldenburg, it is believed the fire started around or before 4:30 …
FC attorney Grant Reeves explains proposed change to county’s zoning code regarding alternative energy systems
By John Estridge At the Franklin County Commissioners’ Tuesday, January 26, meeting, Franklin County Attorney Grant Reeves said there is much misinformation and rumor concerning the proposed zoning change regarding solar power farms in Franklin County. Thus, he wrote a one-page memo on the subject. There is a public hearing about the proposed changes to …
FC Commissioners pass ordinance opening up county for broadband high-speed internet improvements
By John Estridge Franklin County Commissioners unanimously approve an Infrastructure Development Zone, opening up rural Franklin County to high-speed broadband internet at their meeting Tuesday morning, January 12. Their vote came after two residents voiced their opposition in the matter due to reduced taxes for the school system. Southeastern Indiana REMC sought a property tax …
Three lawsuits in the six drowning deaths in FC in March 2020, allege dispatchers ignored three 911 calls about the bridge flooding and being washed out; instead, the dispatchers posted on personal social media accounts
By John Estridge Alleged negligence from three Franklin County governmental entities, especially the Franklin County dispatchers, led to six people drowning as a result of washed-out approaches to a bridge during flooding on March 20, 2020. That is the claim of at least three lawsuits filed in Franklin Circuit Court II by relatives of some …
High speed broadband internet access to rural Franklin County put at risk after two residents speak against proposed utility tax exemption
By John Estridge Southeastern Indiana REMC wants to bring broadband high-speed internet through new fiber to 1,000 Franklin County homes. But those 1,000 homes may miss out after two FC residents complained about the potential loss of tax money at the Tuesday, January 5, Franklin County Commissioners meeting. Southeastern Indiana REMC is seeking a property …
COVID-19 main topic of conversation at commissioners meeting held without the public there in person
By John Estridge It was one of the most unusual Franklin County Commissioners’ meetings in the county’s history. On Tuesday, January 5, there were no public attendees at the public meeting. There were the three commissioners, their administrative assistant Faye Hay, auditor Karla Bauman and one of her employees. Newly elected Franklin County Surveyor Rob …
FC commissioners close Government Center due to COVID-19 concerns
By John Estridge Franklin County Commissioners have closed the Government Center due to COVID-19 concerns. Commissioner Administrative Assistant Fayetta Hay sent out an email at 5:02 p.m., Tuesday, December 29. ”Please be advised EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY the Franklin County Government Center is closed to the public until January 11, 2021. If you need assistance, you may contact offices directly …
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County to file suit on Offset Road to find out if it is a road and/or public way
By John Estridge Franklin County Commissioners want a judge to tell them if there is or ever was a county line road off Indiana 1 south of South Gate. And if there was a road, is it now, at the very least, a public way? Commissioners discussed the situation with the county attorney, Grant Reeves, …
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Proposed 1,300-acre solar field in Bath Twp. causes changes to FC zoning ordinance
By John Estridge Creating and implementing amendments to the county’s zoning code is sort of like watching a tennis match. The ball, which is the proposed amendments, goes back and forth across the net between the county’s Area Plan Commission and the county commissioners. Currently, both entities are trying to implement amendments to cover solar …