Franklin officials ponder City Hall purchase

City leaders are planning to buy their 104-year-old, aging and in some places mold infested City Hall building sometime in 2012.

The St. Mary Parish School Board originally built the building in 1908 to be St. Mary Central High School. It was the site of the first

high school in West St Mary Parish. It later became E.A. Crowell Elementary School in 1956, when the board built the present

Franklin High School. The building is located at 300 Iberia St. – a historical area of the city.

Mayor Raymond Harris said a new building would cost taxpayers more than the $2.5 million he believes is needed to repair the three

story, 30,000 square foot structure.

The mayor said the building is infested with mold in some areas of its second floor and holds an unknown number of variables on its third floor.

But he said the State Fire Marshall’s office informed him the city can remain in the building, provided it corrects roughly $270,000 in electrical problems and also seals the building

of water intrusion — projects Harris estimates will cost $747,000.

The mayor also said the mold must be rid from the building – a problem that hasn’t yet been addressed.

Since 1992, the City of Franklin has rented the property from the

School Board, paying roughly $1,000 a month in rent, with improvements by the city deducted from the monthly rent.

Harris said in late 2010, he began to notice mold on the second

floor of the building, particularly around the buildings elevator shaft. The problem

caused the relocation of an employee who later left her job, due to becoming ill.

“After contacting the school board about the mold problem…hoping they’d go in half with

us on waterproofing the building,” Harris said, but the board refused,” saying that the city’s

lease states that maintenance and repair are the City Of Franklin’s responsibility.”

Still, the City Council is backing Harris in his decision to buy the building, after

the city has spent the last year looking for a new home.

City Councilman Joe Garrison said it has to be done. “We’ve just got to step back, then step up and

do what we have to, to get the job done.”

City Councilman Eugene Foulcard said for City Hall to remain in its present location, it would be

a “win-win” for the community.

“It’s a no brainer. There is no other major option on the table, and it is ludicrous to

even think about building a new building,” Foulcard said.

Harris said he plans to finance the sale and repairs of the building through a series of

financial maneuvers which include paying off two bond issues, the issuing another.

He is also planning on seeking help from the St. Mary Parish Council, and he said State Rep.

Sam Jones and State Senator Bret Allain have offered their assistance in making the

sale and repairs happen.

Jones, who was a long-time Mayor of Franklin and Harris’ predecessor, said that if the

city would try and build the same building in 2012, it would cost roughly $6 million,

and that is pricing the construction at $200 a square foot, just to create the shell of the facility.

Conversely, he said to move out the building would create “neighborhood blight.”

“When we took this place over in 1992, we found crack pipes, mattresses,

you name it,” Jones said.

Jones believes the building needs to be preserved because of its history, and the potential

for public and historical use in the future.

He said the large assembly area on the building’s third floor could create as so much

revenue possibilities for the city, from public-private use, as well as government.

“I’d also like for us to look into creating some sort of historical library, to boast

the work of so many of our state leaders, who are from St. Mary Parish.”

Jones said papers and documents from these leaders would be yet another

tourist attraction for the parish: The late Clarence C. “Taddy” Aycock who was

State House Speaker from 1952-1956 and Lt. Gov from 1960-1972; State Attorney

General Percy Saint, who served from 1924-1932, Jared Y Sanders Sr, who

served as State Speaker of the House, Lt Governor, and a U.S. Congressman.

“Of course, we can feature Gov. Mike Foster, who actually who attended

school in this building, and his grandfather, Murphy J Foster, who not

only served as governor, but also State Senator, a U.S. Senator and later

as Collector of Customs in New Orleans,” Jones said. “The possibilities are

endless.”

Harris said he is excited about possibilities for the building.

“We’re planning to make needed improvements throughout our system without draining

our cash revenues or drastically increasing our debt load.”

“I feel good about our direction and I feel good about the City of Franklin,” he said.