Extra Security Planned for Franklin Springs City Council Meeting

What are being perceived as veiled threats on social media by Franklin Springs Police have prompted Chief Kevin Thompson to step up security for tonight’s city council meeting.

On the Franklin Springs Police Facebook page Thompson posted screenshots from the Advance Franklin page he believes were threatening comments towards Franklin Springs Mayor and Councilmen.

“Due to a number of threating posts on Facebook over the last several days the Franklin Springs City Council meeting scheduled for April 15th is now being treated as an elevated security event,” Chief Thompson said. “Due to these concerns, additional safety measures will be put in place for the meeting. Let me be perfectly clear that our police department will not overlook any kind of threats, even those that are masked in humor. Therefore, additional measures are being put in place that will alter building entry points, traffic flow, parking, and more.”

Thompson said comments such as the screenshots he posted can create a dangerous situation.

“Unfortunately, due to a number of comments on social media platforms like the couple below, persons have effectively created a dangerous environment which requires our close scrutiny for the safety of all citizens in the City of Franklin Springs,” he added.

Another crowd of concerned citizens is expected to be on hand tonight as they were at two previous meetings.

Only this time, only certain individuals will be allowed to express those concerns during the Public Comment section of the meeting.

On the agenda for tonight’s meeting, it states that those wishing to comment on any topic or issue concerning the City of Franklin Springs must be citizens of the town. It states that the Public Comment period is “to allow only for Franklin Springs Residents, Property Owners, and Business Owners to speak under public comment.”

The move is a reaction to the two previous meetings where people who did not live in Franklin Springs or even the County spoke regarding their concerns about a rumored rendering plant coming to the city, pollution in the Broad River, and the City’s plans for a larger wastewater treatment plant.

Another public hearing designed for citizens to voice their concerns also had people from outside the County getting up to speak, and by the end, the meeting had deteriorated to the point where one woman shouted “liar” at Mayor Lee Moore.

Tonight’s meeting begins at 5:30p at Franklin Springs City Hall.