TODAY I BEGIN A FIVE-PART SERIES ON THE TOP ISSUES FRANKLIN FACES. I’LL DO AN ISSUE A DAY OVER THE NEXT FIVE DAYS, WORKING UP TO #1, THE MOST IMPORTANT CITY ISSUE. WE START WITH ISSUE #5.Franklin is suffering from an identity crisis.
What is Franklin? Who is Franklin?
I was only half-joking when I wrote recently about possible
slogans for Franklin.
Think about it. If you had to come up with a short, snappy, bumper-sticker like phrase or slogan for your home city, what would it be? What would you focus on? How would you in one concise snapshot capsulize Franklin?
The city that was once dominated by farm land is now undergoing phenomenal growth. Rural areas are being bulldozed for new high-priced subdivisions. There remains a country flavor and charm to some parts of Franklin, but that landscape is disappearing, even though some longtime residents are reluctant to let go.
That determination to hold on to the past is part of Franklin’s history. The city’s website says, “Not all Franklin residents wanted to see the Town become a City. In fact, during the early consideration of the Oak Creek bill, (In 1956 Milwaukee wanted to annex Oak Creek and Franklin) Town Officials opposed the bill because they said it would not ease their problem since then they would be open to annexation by the City of Oak Creek.”
The same holds true today. Where some Franklinites see progress and growth, others see a quaintness being wiped away.
Exploding growth here is unstoppable. The horse and buggy days are long gone. Large office buildings and new developments bring more jobs, new neighborhoods, more families and children, an increase in traffic, and a demand for more services, recreation, and shopping opportunities. With the rising tide of growth come growing pains. A faction of the community would prefer the growth never occurs, but time stands still for no one.
Franklin, it appears, wants to be the Jetsons, but in the tug-of-war-like atmosphere, there are those who still want to be Fred and Wilma.
Franklin sells itself this way: “Building Great Families and Great Businesses in southeast Wisconsin.”
That’s fine. A bit bland, but ok.
Franklin has tremendous potential. However, the city’s mission and its identity need to be more clearly defined.
Like it or not, the perception most have of our city, the immediate reaction when you mention the word, “Franklin,” is high taxes. Yes, people are moving here in droves, but for many other reasons: good (not great) schools, peaceful neighborhoods, open space to build new homes, and our proximity to the freeway, the city and all our surrounding neighbors have to offer. But unfortunately, that’s not top-of-mind for most folks when it comes to Franklin.
We need to figure out what and who were are, what makes us great, and then go out and sell it.
Are we rural or urban?
Or a combination?
Are we small or big?
How small?
How big?
Do we want an influx of new businesses or not?
If so, what kind?
And what do we want them to look like?
If not, why not?
Right now, the message is mixed at best.
Try this exercise yourself. Pretend you are Doug Wheaton, the Economic Development Director for the city of Franklin. You have decided that
“Building Great Families and Great Businesses in southeast Wisconsin,” needs some punching up, maybe even some shortening, too. The new slogan must fit ideally on a bumper sticker.
Seriously, how do you best describe the city you call home?
It’s not that easy.
Therein lies the problem, at #5……..FRANKLIN’S IDENTITY.
DON’T WANT A BIG INCREASE IN YOUR SCHOOL TAXES? CONTACT FRANKLIN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS NOW.
