FRANKLIN — St. Mary Parish President David Hanagriff delivered a gift to Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard on Tuesday, a $575,000 check, the city’s share of parish road improvement money.

Hanagriff along with Parish Councilman Dale Rogers presented the money, as they wished Foulcard the best during this term as mayor.

Tuesday was Foulcard’s first official meeting in City Hall.

Hanagriff said the check is round one of a two-year payment to the city from $10 million in tax revenue bonds the council sold in late May to improve roads parishwide. 

“We will be back again next year with another check for $575,000, after we sell another $10 million in bonds in 2019,” Hanagriff said.

“We wish you nothing but the best,” he said on behalf of himself and the Franklin contingent of Parish Councilmen, including Paul Naquin, the Rev. Craig Mathews and Jay Ina, who he said were out of town and could not make it to the City Council meeting. 

Rogers, who previously served on the Franklin City Council, said he was looking foward to the construction.

“It’s been more than 20 years since we’ve seen parish road reconstruction. I’m looking forward to what we as a Parish Council are going to do, but to which you as a City Council are going to do,” Rogers said. 

Foulcard said he deeply appreciated the money from the parish.

“We’re moving forward tonight for sure, in improving infrastructure, which was part of my campaign,” he said.

The mayor said the first two streets he will tackle are Chapel and South Willow streets.

“These are major streets into our city, and their in great need of attention,” Foulcard said.

Following the check presentation, the council voted to pass a resolution, authorizing Foulcard to hire Miller Engineers and Assoc. of Franklin to conduct a survey to determine which streets in Franklin need repair, replacement and or overlay, and to prepare estimates of the cost(s) involved. 

In personnel matters, the city council voted to set the salary of Interim Police Chief Tina Thibodeaux at $51,870, which is the same salary her predecessor, Chief Sabria McGuire, was at when she retired .

Thibodeaux has been a veteran of the Franklin Police Department for the past 26 years. 

In other business, Foulcard announced the Stop the Violence Rally on Thursday  the Broussard-Harris Recreation Center. (See related story and photos on Sunday.)

Foulcard, who lost two nephews last year, said the event is important, especially in the wake to two murder-suicides that have occurred recently — one last week in Franklin and another one Monday in Glencoe. 

He asked that everyone wear black and gold to the rally, in honor of the late Rachelle Bell, who lost a son to violence but who was instrumental in working with former Mayor Raymond Harris, in advocating for non-violence. 

“As you know, gun violence affects many individuals across our community, and it doesn’t have any regard to anyone or anything. We need to put these guns away and work on conflict resolutions. Let’s hope we can effectively try and get these guns off the streets,” Foulcard said.

Councilmen Chuck Autin and Larry Guilbeau urged the public to attend.

“There’s no reason why parents should not come and bring their children,” Autin said.

Guilbeau said he’s tired of hearing anonymous reports of gunfire in his neighborhood.

“If you see something, say something. Report it to the police,” he said. 

In a related matter, City Councilman Lester Levine called on the public to promote non-violence among children. 

“You look on TV and hear news about  children putting suspicious things in their back packs, carrying weapons etc. I think it’s time we turn attention to our city, and take a stand,” Levine said.