Carroll P. Matherne
November 25, 2008
RoseMary Smith Giron
November 28, 2008
A battle between a city official and cane farmer has surfaced in Franklin. At stake: More than 40 white lampposts.
On one side is the chairman of Franklin’s historical district chairwoman, Judy Allain. On the other side is, Reginald Thomas of Sterling Sugars, the city’s largest cane farmer.
Allain is worried cane trucks could wreck into more than 40 white lampposts located along Main Street in Franklin. She’d like to see the trucks prohibited from traveling the street, but Thomas disagrees with her premise.
Allain expressed her support for the prohibition at last week’s city council meeting. Council members had proposed an ordinance that would prohibit all oversized vehicles from traveling the thoroughfare. The ordinance was intended to replace a previous law, which several councilmen argued discriminated against sugar cane farmer because they were the only ones it mentioned.
The measure failed, although it is expected to be raised again in December.
Allain said during high traffic periods, when the truck drivers have to “negotiate tight spaces” along “the great white way,” she fears the poles may be damaged. The route is lined with 38 original lampposts plus 17 lampposts that the historical commission recently added.
“We need to preserve what is important to the city,” she told the city council. “It’s time we stand up for what we hold dear and do all we can to protect it.”
Sterling Sugars’ Thomas was also at the meeting although he did not speak.
After the meeting, he said none of the 26 cane trucks that he maintains have overturned or wrecked along the historical area.
“We appreciate Ms. Judy Allain and her different committee members looking at what they feel is best for the area. However we did not know that tourist dollars are more important that the tax and payroll dollars we generate within the City of Franklin,” Thomas said.
“Downtown Main Street is part of La. Hwy. 182, a state highway, and, therefore, no one can prohibit any vehicles from traveling through it,” he added.
Thomas’s brother, Sidney, told the council that Sterling Sugars pumps a tremendous amount of money into the Franklin and St. Mary Parish economy. “Last year, our fuel bill alone for diesel gasoline was $180,000,” he said.
State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell opined that the city could not regulate or impose additional regulations on a state-maintained highway. He also argued that the scope of the previous law – which named cane trucks – was too limited, according to city attorney Vincent Borne.
Councilman Kenny Scelfo sided with Thomas. “Regulating them (cane farmers) extensively, adds expense and burden to the farmers and their workers … The ordinance is not justified.”
Franklin Mayor Raymond Harris said the law prohibiting cane farmers from using the highway will not be enforced.
“There is going to be dialogue between the city, the state Department of Transportation and Development and the cane farmers to hopefully work out the situation. The conclusion has already been made that the ordinance as it is will not work,” he said.
Reginal Thomas said he was encouraged by the ordinances defeat, but won’t give up his fight should the issue be raised again.
