Ryan Creek Trail Project Moves Ahead: Common Council Roundup

FRANKLIN, WI — The Franklin Common Council took more steps toward securing portions of the Ryan Creek Trail at its meeting Tuesday night. The council also approved job descriptions for two job positions, approved two vehicles to be sold at auction and more.

The council approved constructing a ten-foot-wide trail through the ongoing Ryan Meadows subdivision project. The trail was previously supposed to be five-feet-wide, but public opinion and opportune circumstances have supported the trail being made wider, according to city documents.

See Also: Franklin's Significant Trail Expansions

The city will pay $69,662 for the project to be expanded. A majority of that cost will be eligible for park impact fees.

Because the subdivision is still under construction, it would be easier to construct the pathway wider now, rather than after the homes are constructed, city documents said. The trail through the Ryan Meadows subdivision will eventually be part of the wider Ryan Creek Trail project.

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The council also approved the creation of a master plan for the Ryan Creek Trail. The portion through the Ryan Meadows development will be constructed as wider path, with other portions of the trail system to be designed later, city documents said.

The new trail could create another part of a wide expansion of Franklin's trail system that has been in the works for some time now.

The common council decided to approve paying $57,000 to GRAEF-USA Incorporated to create a master plan of the Ryan Creek Trail project. The company's proposed project schedule states that a plan could be expected by the end of September.

The master plan could be ready for common council approval by October, documents submitted by GRAEF said.

The common council also approved job descriptions for two city positions. Franklin will be on the lookout for a new Health Department Public Health Program Manager and an Administration Department Human Resources Manager.

Two vehicles that were used by Franklin engineering will be auctioned off. A Chevrolet Venture van from 2001 and a Dodge Intrepid car from 2003 have been deemed unsuitable to drive and will be auctioned off.