Last November, Franklin voters approved a bond issue to generate $66 million for local funding for a $130 million school construction project. The local funding would cover the costs of a new high school and renovate the existing high school into a middle school. State funding would cover construction of the three new elementary schools.
Franklin Superintendent Michael Sander said the new building is being designed this year followed by two years construction for a 2023 opening. The middle school opening is planned for 2025.
Franklin
New City Manager Jonathan Westendorf said the relocation of the new high school closer to the downtown was exciting. Generating more interest downtown is something Franklin officials have been talking about for nearly three decades, he said.
“This school deal is going to be a big deal for the city of Franklin,” Westendorf said.
He hopes the economic stimulus created by the new school construction will bring attention of developers to downtown and the entire city.
Mayor Brent Centers said the city hopes to restart capital projects that were paused in 2020 by COVID-19. He expects the former Franklin Boxboard site cleared by mid-summer and other projects such as the Community Park expansion and playground equipment upgrade and a and a major push to increase efforts in attacking the drug problem.
Carlisle
After the way 2020 went, Village Manager Julie Duffy said she’s being “cautious” about possible ripple effects of COVID-19 going into 2021.
Duffy said the village’s goal is to maintain operations and services for residents and businesses. However, the uncertainty of 2020′s ripple effect has her concerned about possible effects on the local income tax and local businesses into the new year.
In 2021, the village will learn whether it will resume city status again if the population is more than 5,000 residents after the federal Census is certified. Ten years ago, the population Carlisle dipped below the threshold and it reverted back to village status.
The other major item in 2021 will be the completion of a feasibility study on the services provided and whether the Joint Emergency Medical Services District should be combined, said Mayor Randy Winkler. The Ohio Fire Chiefs Association is evaluating if JEMS, which employs part-timers, and the volunteer Carlisle and Franklin Twp. fire departments, should be combined. The study is due back in several weeks.
Franklin Twp.
A large infrastructure project is being planned to replace a culvert on Morningstar Road near the entrance to the Five Rivers MetroPark. Township Administrator Traci Stivers said the estimated cost of the project was $120,000.
Stivers said the township trustees will hold a work session via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 13 to discuss future land development of several township-owned properties. One of the properties being discussed is on Sharts Road as the trustees would like to see possible commercial development there, she said. The township also owns land on Hamilton-Middletown and Union Roads.
She said the township and Middletown are working on a Joint Economic Development District for land located on Ohio 122 west of Hunter.
Stiver said the township is working to improve communication with residents in 2021 by continuing to live stream township meetings. Pending zoning approval, the township plans to install two electronic LED signs at the Twin Creek Fire Station and at the Administration Building to post community messages.
She said hotspots are being installed throughout the township to assist those who are struggling with connectivity issues.
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