Commissioners’ Court approves Pct. 1 bridge funding
Robertson County Officials discuss North Mineral Creek bridge reconstruction plans. Pictured left to right: Commissioner James Taylor, Pct. 4, Commissioner Chuck Hairston, Pct. 3, Judge Joe D. Scarpinato, Commissioner Donald Threadgill, Pct. 2, and Commissioner Ty Rampy, Pct. 1 Jada Terry | Robertson County News
Jada B. Terry Jada@robconews.com Robertson County News FRANKLIN — In Tuesday’s Commissioners’ Court meeting, county officials approved funding for Precinct 1 to move forward with full bridge reconstruction over North Mineral Creek on Old Boone Prairie Rd. (CR 384). Commissioner Ty Rampy of Precinct 1 discussed major concerns regarding the bridge, bringing forward evidence from TxDOT’s inspection for the county to take necessary action. Rampy proceeded, explaining the initiative already taken, and needed to begin moving forward with construction. “This is the first time we’ve seen this type of issue in Precinct 1, so I wanted to bring this to the court. When we went to begin repairs, we noticed more issues than what was previously shown to us,” said Rampy. “As of Friday, we’ve blocked off the bridge after TxDOT came out and deemed it needed to be shut down immediately.” According to Sanders Creek Construction, work is expected to begin within the next couple of weeks, with an anticipated date of completion of one and a half to two months. During discussions over Precinct 1’s bridge concerns, Precinct 2 Commissioner Donald Threadgill proposed using funds from the county’s emergency account to cover construction costs. The decision was made unanimously to fund project costs estimated to be $175,000. In the meantime, alternate routes are available for residents and businesses in the area. County officials noted that the closure may result in increased travel times and encouraged motorists to plan ahead for safe and efficient travel during the construction period.
Franklin Police Leaders Retire
Dennis Phillips Jada Terry news@robconews.com Robertson County News Franklin City Council met on Monday, May 18, to formally acknowledge the retirement of Chief of Police Terry Thibodeaux and Lieutenant John Key. Thibodeaux served the Franklin Police Department for 27 years, while Key had been with the department for seven years. Both officers retired last week amid allegations of wrongdoing under investigation by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). The investigation was originally submitted to the Robertson County District Attorney’s Office. However, District Attorney Coty Siegert recused himself, leading the case to be transferred to Brazos County. The newspaper has since been informed that Brazos County also recused itself, and the case is pending reassignment. Mayor Molly Hedrick addressed the matter, stating, “My information is that both Officer Key and Chief Thibodeaux have retired from the force. There’s really nothing further for us to do except respect these complaints. The complaints have been made to the district attorney’s office, that they’ve followed through there or not.” The retirement of both officers does not conclude the ongoing case. The TCOLE investigation remains active, and further information on the case’s progression is pending. Despite these transitions, the Franklin Police Department remains fully operational. Officers continue their regular patrols and law enforcement duties to ensure public safety is not interrupted. The Franklin City Council is now tasked with filling two key positions: Chief of Police and Lieutenant. Currently, the department is under the leadership of Sergeant Johnson, who is the highest-ranking officer in the Franklin Police Department at this time. The council acknowledged the situation in Monday’s session, and the city will begin the process of recruiting new leadership for the department. While the specifics of the search were not discussed during the meeting, the city will be looking to find qualified candidates to step into these roles promptly. As of now, the ongoing external proceedings have no direct timeline for resolution, and the council remains informed but not directly involved in legal matters. Franklin residents can expect normal police presence, as daily operations continue without interruption. More updates will follow as details emerge.
