Groups or individuals wanting to use the Franklin County Courthouse or the Franklin County Courthouse Annex will now be required to sign a written agreement prior to their event.
The Franklin County Commission unanimously approved a motion whereby groups wanting to use county facilities for a “public purpose” must sign an agreement, which includes a waiver and indemnity clause releasing the county from any liability.
Franklin County probate judge Barry Moore said the process to reserve county premises and facilities will now involve a requirement that the requesting group sign a premises use agreement available at the Franklin County probate judge’s office or the Franklin County Commission office. If approved, there will continue to be no charge, but the agreement must be signed in advance of the scheduled event.
“We just looked at this as a way to ensure we’re not held responsible for any accident or if property is damaged,” Moore said. “I spoke with our county attorney about the idea, and he drafted the agreement form. It’s just a way to be proactive and take care of any potential problems before they become an issue.”
The agreement stipulates that the organization requesting use of the facilities agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Franklin County, the Franklin County Commission and all agents and officials of Franklin County.
Moore said no specific incident led to the new agreement. Rather, he said it’s being done as a preventive measure.
In other action, the commission:
•Approved catastrophic sick leave and Family Medical Leave Act request for Solid Waste Department manager Phillip Wilson.
•Approved the termination of Tony Welborn from the Solid Waste Department.
•Approved the temporary hirings of Chase White and Felisha Weeks as correction officer/dispatcher with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.
•Vacated an approximate 900-foot portion of Nursery Road in western Franklin County. The request was made by Randy Holland.
Nursery Road is accessible from County Road 23. Franklin County engineer David Palmer said the way Nursery Road comes into 23 in one location involves a very sharp angle difficult for trucks to turn. Palmer said another entrance into Nursery Road, just north of the vacated portion, is much easier to access for vehicles coming from the north.
Southbound traffic flows into the road already. A public hearing was scheduled before last week’s commission meeting, but no citizens appeared for the hearing.
“We will put up permanent barricades to prevent access to the vacated part of the road,” Palmer said. “With the turn the way it was, it created a dangerous situation for the family living at that intersection.”
The next meeting of the Franklin County Commission is set for August 17 at 8:30 a.m., at the Courthouse Annex. A work session is set for August 10 at 5 p.m.
