This early rendering RAB Lighting produced on behalf of Davis Electric shows two proposed spotlights that would be drilled and placed into the Johnson County Courthouse grounds. The view is looking at the courthouse from Jefferson Street.

Submitted

With generosity from local donors, a Franklin woman’s dream to light up the Johnson County Courthouse permanently is on track to become a reality next spring.

For years, Helen Hodgen, a 92-year-old lifelong resident of Franklin, has questioned why the courthouse is not lit up at night. So in 2020, she started a quest to have spotlights added to the exterior of the building. Earlier this year, she received a estimate of around $80,000 from local contractor Davis Electric.

She reached out to the Johnson County Community Foundation for help to guide her through the process of getting funding. In April, Hodgen, her daughter Beth Auld, and JCCF Vice President of Development Kim Kasting came before the Johnson County Board of Commissioners with the proposal, however, the commissioners’ said they did not want to use taxpayer dollars for the project. Hodgen did have the option of raising the funds herself though.

So, began the fundraising.

Kasting and Hodgen originally believed it would be possible for the county to use a Franklin Development Corporation, or FDC, facade matching grant program to cover up to $40,000 of the cost of the project. However, the board decided it was outside of its mission to give a grant for a project to improve a government building, Auld said.

Despite that setback, through the efforts of Hodgen, Auld, JCCF and other supporters, over $51,000 was raised for the lighting project — including $30,000 Hodgen and her husband Lee donated for the cause. Because the project was pared back to an estimated cost of $50,000 the group exceeded its fundraising goal.

Under the original proposal, eight 18-inch tall poles would have been drilled and placed into the ground for spotlights. Now, the plan is for poles to be installed in three corners facing the courthouse: northwest, northeast and southwest, Auld said.

With funds in hand, the group received unanimous approval from the commissioners on Nov. 21. The project is entirely funded by donations, and no taxpayer dollars are being used for it.

Hodgen will have to wait a little longer for her dream to be actualized. Her project will have to wait until after the county is done with its courthouse renovation project, which involves work on the basement.

“They are running new (electric) conduits for other things, so that is why we are asked to delay till that’s done, which we’re hoping will be May of ‘23,” Auld said.

Already Dan Davis, the owner of Davis Electric, has ordered everything needed for the project. When the parts do arrive, they’ll be put in storage until its time to be installed, Auld said.

“The cost of everything just keeps jumping up, you just never know, so that was a good deal to be able to get the approval, and then he was comfortable going ahead and ordering everything,” she said.

The majority of the donations will be used for the purchase of the lights, with the rest going to ongoing maintenance fees, which are expected to be minimal, Kasting said.

While it is her mother’s dream, Auld has been spearheading the effort for her. Both Auld and Hodgen have lived in Franklin their whole lives, so it’s important to see this through.

“It meant as much for me to see it go be approved for my mom and dad,” Auld said. “It was worth the amount of time I spent on it. I’m just as excited,” she said.

For Kasting, the project is a win for the community. JCCF’s tagline is connecting people to causes that matter, and this is an example of it, she said.

“We had a donor — a friend of the foundation — come to us with a project that she wanted to see completed, and we helped her make that happen,” Kasting said. “It’s a success. It’s a win for us. It’s a win for the community, and it’s definitely a win for that family.”

Whenever the project is completed, Auld and Hodgen plan to have a little celebration with the community.

“We’ll probably invite anybody from the community, kind of like the lighting for the Christmas lights, to come watch,” Auld said.

Hodgen is thankful to all of the individuals and businesses for their donations in her effort to see the courthouse lit up brightly every night.

“She and my dad gave a chunk of money, but it still wouldn’t have happened if a lot of people hadn’t given to support them,” Auld said.