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FRANKLIN — Prior planning helps to promote solid applications to the state's capital and transportation improvement programs for funding in future years.

Franklin City Council no Monday, June 16, unanimously approved a pair of applications for the 2011 program year of the state program, commonly known as Issue 2.

The applications are for improvements and reconstruction of East Second Street from Deardoff Road to 300 feet east of Commerce Center Drive, and for improvements and reconstruction of Ohio 123 from the city's south corporation line to Riley Boulevard.

The estimated $1.41 million project for East Second Street also will include the repair/replacement of curbs, gutters and sidewalks; storm water inlets and piping; a right turn lane at Conover Drive; reconstruction of the Commerce Center Drive and resurfacing the street. The application notes the city will cover 51 percent or $783,171 of the project's cost.

For the Ohio 123 project, which is estimated to cost $1.81 million, includes the repair/replacement of curbs, gutters, concrete aprons and sidewalks; repair/add storm water inlets and piping; modifying the traffic signal at East Sixth and Anderson streets; improving the intersection radius; and resurfacing the road. The application notes the city will cover 51 percent or $923,647 of the project's cost.

Street lighting ordinance approved

Council approved it's annual ordinance to assess owners for the lighting of city streets and roads for 2009. Of the total cost to provide street lighting in Franklin, 98 percent or $104,500 is assessed to property owners, while 2 percent or $2,090 is paid from city funds.

Contract approved for water meter radio remotes

Council also approved a contract not to exceed $120,000 for the purchase of water meter radio remotes from Neptune Equipment Co. of Cincinnati.

Sonny Lewis, public works director, said city crews would install the remotes with a plan to install 1,100 of them in 2008. Lewis said he hopes to have all 4,250 remotes replaced over the next five years.

Once installed, a reader will be able to drive a truck and collect meter readings from the street, he said. Lewis said the goal will be to have actual meter readings each month instead of the current combination of estimated and actual meter readings for billing.

Lewis said the city will also save more than $600,000 over the next five years by having city crews install the remotes.

"We can do a great job and it will be done right the first time," he said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or erichter@coxohio.com.