The Franklin Township Trustees wrote a letter to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office questioning the legality of the township lending its equipment to employees.
For the past 16 years (and maybe longer), employees have borrowed a variety of items from the township including tables, chairs and concrete saws. The items returned in the same condition as they left, said Trustee Tim Guyton.
Newer trustees questioned the legality of the practice. Additionally, the trustees discussed whether residents could also borrow township property, since township items would belong to the taxpayers.
"We will modify our policy to match the (prosecutor’s) opinion," Guyton said.
The trustees also discussed the area plan that the Southwest Area Commission will create next year with the help of the City of Columbus.
Guyton said that half the area the plan covers belongs to the township and therefore the trustees should be involved.
Commissioner Juanita Kaufman told the trustees that the SWAC wish list includes a library, post office, doctor’s office, retirement center and a park.
The SWAC began three years ago, and Franklin County and Columbus have both come on board, but the township needs to join as well.
"We can’t do it alone," Kaufman said.
In other news:
The township received a quote from Watkins Construction to repair the salt barn wall.
The barn, consisting of two cement block walls attached to the back of the road barn and covered with a leaky roof, was filled to capacity last year because the township received a deal on salt if they ordered more. The walls have begun to bow.
The trustees requested quotes to replace the walls, however Watkins suggested reinforcing the existing walls instead.
Watkins would place large beams against the bowed walls and attach them with angle braces. Empty spaces between the beams and the wall due to the bow would be filled with mortar. The existing blocks would also be filled with mortar.
The trustees will consider several bids for the project as well as for fixing the roof.
