FRANKLIN
Citing nuisances such as rats and snakes in overgrown grass, a resident of Walnut Street was approved to acquire a portion of the alley between her residence and another that the city vacated upon request.

The 12-foot-wide, 100-foot-long portion of the alley between Walnut and Chestnut streets was abandoned in a 7-0 vote by the Franklin City Council and granted to Maria Abunal. The adjacent property owners requested that the portion that could fall to them be transferred to Abunal for the expenses related to maintenance and additional property value.

Abunal said the city did not provide maintenance to the alley, and with small children visiting during the weekends, she and her husband feared for their safety due to the aforementioned hazards. The family is willing to spend its own money to keep the area clean cut.

Community Development Director Donald Goodwin said no city services would be impacted by the change. Due to obstructions, the alley is not passable by vehicles.

Goodwin added that inquiries were sent to other property owners along the route of the four-block alley, but the Abunals were the only people interested in having it vacated at this time.