Important meeting: Trees and Buy Out

Meeting with City Project Manager, Ben Worley

119 Ewingville, Buck House

June 13, 6:30 PM   Bring yard chairs.

This information was gathered by Roxie Marston on June 5, 2012 while on the Buck property. I found Ben Worley, Franklin Project Manager, and began to ask questions. I got a lot clarified about the demolition of the houses, land restoration and the ways selected trees will remain. Ben Worley is Row Agent/Project Manager with Franklin.  It is his task to oversee the demolition of the buildings on the buyout property.  He is also in charge of the land restoration.  Maintenance of the city’s property has not been decided.  Ben Worley feels it will either be Parks and Recreation or Maintenance. Ben Worley clarified that each contractor bidding on the removal of the houses has been told in writing to take all of the trees with a clause written in excluding selected trees. He and the city arborist will decide what trees should remain.  He also feels that a lot of trees will remain. Mr. Worley feels that contractors bidding are telling the truth when they say they are to take all of the trees.  They have been asked to put total tree removal in their bids.  However, Ben Worley and the city arborist will be in charge of deciding which trees remain.  From my conversation with Ben I feel a fair number of trees will be retained. Ben has said that all pines and ornamental trees are to be removed.  These would cause extra maintenance as they fall.  Hardwood trees will be preserved unless they have been damaged by another tree. Ben Worley is willing to meet with Ewingville neighbors.  June 13, 2012 at 6:30 in the Buck’s yard.  Bring your lawn chair and your questions.  I have a much better feeling about our trees after talking with Ben Worley a long time today. Our petition is appropriate and will be turned in to Eric Stuckey, City Manager.  I am making every effort to get every signature possible.  Bids to demolish are to be turned into the City by Tuesday, June 5, 2012.  Ben Worley is working on a remaining 60 days to get all of the demolition accomplished.  BOMA, Board of Mayor and Aldermen, meets on June 12, 2012 at 6:30 PM for a work session and a meeting at 9:00 PM. At this time it is not necessary that we attend the Tuesday evening board meeting.  All meetings are open to the public.  Information about Mayor and Alderman board meetings can be found at http://www.franklin-gov.com/index.aspx?page=60. Please reply to the E mail address in your "Letter of Invite" to this blog.