Current Month Newsletter

October 2010

City Budget and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) - After holding two work sessions in August, Council passed a $56M annual budget for 2011 at our last meeting in September.  The budget ordinance can be viewed here and the CIP here.

Gooch Lane -  Gooch Lane was formally added to the CIP; read the Minutes from the August CIP work session here (page 3, item 10-24). The work on Balch continues where the Madison Hospital is being built and Gooch remains as a detour route. We will be able to move forward with plans to widen and repave the portion of Gooch between Wall Triana and Balch once the work on Balch is completed.

I-565 and Wall Triana - The paving work is completed on Wall Triana at I-565 exit. The final lane striping will be done next, along with the lane control bollards similar to those used throughout the city to guide drivers into lanes as designed.   The Alabama Dept of Transportation believes the congestion at this intersection (including the rush hour back-up onto I-565) can be solved through lane routing and coordinating adjacent lights. I strongly believe we need a light at this intersection and will continue to work towards that goal.

Halloween - Halloween falls on Sunday this year. The City of Madison decided NOT to move "Trick or Treating" to Saturday as the last time this was done not everyone followed the plan and residents ended up having ghouls and goblins visiting on both nights.

Dublin Park "Haunted Hay Ride"- The City Parks and Recreation Dept is hosting a Haunted Hay Ride at Dublin Park on Fri and Sat nights from 7 - 11 PM, Oct 8th - 30th. Read more here.

Road Work -   The Wall Triana at Hwy 72 improvements are nearing completion. This will address the lane stacking during peak traffic hours (view the drawings here).  The ongoing problem with a severe dip across Wall Triana adjacent to the carwash will be addressed as well.  This has been a problem far too long! Remember, fines are doubled when workers are present...the speed limit has been reduced to 35 MPH. Of note, I'm also working with our City Engineer to determine the best way to address cars entering and exiting the Hardee's and McDonalds parking lots from Wall Triana. This was dangerous already and will only worsen now with multiple turn lanes for cars to navigate across.

Fall Break - Madison City Schools will be out for Fall Break starting Thursday the 7th of October - Monday, the 11th of October. Please be safe if you are traveling and watch for children playing in your neighborhood.

Friday Nights Under The Lights - This Friday night, October 8th at 7 PM, is Military Appreciation Night at the Madison City Stadium (Military Appreciation Night was rescheduled from early September due to scheduling conflicts). The Patriot's play Buckhorn this Friday - another tough team. Hope you can come out and cheer on your home town Bob Jones High School Patriots who have a 5 and 1 record after pulling out a thrilling, overtime win against Huntsville last Friday night. It's always a great day to be a Patriot!

September 2010

Happy Labor Day Weekend! - As you might imagine, I've been rather busy with several other commitments - hence this newsletter being a few days late - but as always, I'm committed to being your City Councilman, first and foremost.

Friday Nights Under The Lights - Yes, I love college football and will even watch a pro game when time allows but nothing beats high school football. The Bob Band playing, the Dance Team, Cheerleaders and, as the Kenny Chesney song goes - The Boys of Fall - taking the field! This Friday night, Sept 10th at 7 PM is Military Appreciation Night at the Madison City Stadium. This will be the first home game of the season - we play Florence. Hope you can come out and cheer on your home town Bob Jones High School Patriots. It's always a great day to be a Patriot!

City Budget and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Council held two work sessions in August; we held a 7 hour work session on a Saturday with the Mayor where each City Department Head presented their goals and budget recommendations for the next two years. This is yet another example of your city leaders working together (on a Saturday!) to determine the best way to keep Madison the city that it is in these tough economic conditions. We held a second work session after the August 23rd Council meeting to work on the CIP. Mayor Finley and the Dept Heads continue to refine the budget which will be presented to the Finance Committee and then to Council in September for final tweaking and passage. I will ensure everyone is notified when the final budget and CIP become available for public viewing.

I-565 and County Line Rd Interchange Meeting - The Alabama Department of Transportation (AL DOT) held a public meeting in August regarding the planned interchange at I-565 and County Line Road. The planned on/off ramps have changed dramatically from a long ramp similar to Hwy 20 exit to a "clover-leaf" ramp similar to Research Park Blvd. I've seen the drawings and will post a link once they become available on the city website.

Texting and Driving - Council passed an ordinance in August banning texting while driving in the City of Madison. Most residents are aware that the City of Huntsville passed a similar ordinance in July; both ordinances go into effect September 20th. As stated in an earlier newsletter, one of my concerns was to reduce the confusion should one city pass an ordinance and the other not. It is very difficult to determine if you are driving in Madison, Huntsville or Madison County.

In July's newsletter I asked for and received several responses from residents regarding a texting and driving ordinance; I received one negative response and 12 in support of the ordinance. I too am concerned with cities legislating driver's actions but support the overwhelming majority of those who spoke with me on this issue. I believe this will one day, soon, become a statewide ban.  You may recall that a state-wide ban failed during the 2010 state legislative session. Cities such as Madison, Huntsville, and Birmingham passing local legislation should help propel a state level ban forward in the 2011 legislative session.

Road Work -   The Wall Triana at Hwy 72 improvements are nearing completion. The dual turn lanes are stating to take shape; similar to those added on Hwy 72 at Hughes Road to address the lane stacking during peak traffic hours (view the drawings here).  The ongoing problem with a severe dip across Wall Triana adjacent to the carwash will be addressed as well.  This has been a problem far too long! Please use caution as the road remains open during construction. Also note that fines are doubled when workers are present...the speed limit has been reduced to 35 MPH...watch your speed!

Labor Day Trash Pick-up - Madison County Sanitation provides trash pick-up for Madison city residents; their office is closed on Monday, September 6th to observe Labor Day. Because of this, city of Madison residents’ Thursday garbage service will be provided Friday, September 10th. Limestone County City of Madison residents’ service will not be affected.  The recycling service will not be affected as well.

August 2010

Sales Tax Holiday - The City of Madison will participate in the state sales tax holiday on Saturday, August 7th and Sunday August 8th. This gives shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain school supplies, computers and clothing free of state sales tax. Limits include - clothing items priced at $100 or less, school supplies priced at $50 or less, books priced at $30 or less and computers and computer equipment priced at $750 or less. Remember - Shop MADISON first!

Schools Open - Okay, some people are more excited about this than others - all Madison City Schools open on Monday, 9 August. Please remember to watch for school zones and children walking to the bus stops in neighborhoods. The elementary schools open house schedule is posted and the complete 2010 - 2011 school year calendar is available here.

I-565 and County Line Rd Interchange Meeting - The Alabama Department of Transportation (AL DOT) will hold a public meeting on Thursday, 26 August from 5 to 7 PM regarding the planned interchange at I-565 and County Line Road. The meeting will be held in the gymnasium at Heritage Elementary School on County Line Road. I plan to attend the meeting at 5 PM. AL DOT held a similar meeting in 2008. Suspect this meeting will be the same "drop-in" format with no formal presentation but rather several stations set up with an AL DOT representative to answer questions.

Texting and Driving - Last month Council began discussing an ordinance that, if passed, would ban texting while driving in the City of Madison. Most residents are aware that the City of Huntsville passed a similar ordinance in July; the Huntsville ordinance goes into effect in September. As stated in an earlier newsletter, one of my concerns is to reduce the confusion should one city pass an ordinance and the other not. It is very difficult to determine if you are driving in Madison, Huntsville or Madison County. In July's newsletter I asked for and received several responses from residents regarding a texting and driving ordinance; 100% of the responses were in support of the ordinance. I will work with other Council Members to discuss moving forward with a similar ordinance for Madison. I have also been in contact with several of our Legislators concerning this ordinance. You may recall that a state-wide ban failed during the 2010 state legislative session. Cities such as Madison, Huntsville, and Birmingham passing local legislation will help propel a state level ban forward in the 2011 legislative session.

Road Work -   The Wall Triana at Hwy 72 improvements are underway - dual turn lanes, similar to those recently added on Hwy 72 at Hughes Road addressing the lane stacking during peak traffic hours (view the drawings here).  The ongoing problem with the drainage repair across Wall Triana adjacent to the carwash will also be addressed.  This has been problem far too long! Please use caution as the road will remain open during construction. Also note that fines are doubled when workers are present...the speed limits have been reduced to 35 MPH...watch your speed!

Animal Control Ordinance - I sponsored and Council approved a resolution to place a 60 day moratorium on the fee increase for a pet license to encourage pet owners to register their pets.  Of note, this ordinance also introduced a 3 year license option now that the state approved a 3 year rabies vaccination. The city has worked to increase the efficiency of obtaining pet licenses to include an online option. Animal licenses are available at the Police Department Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Police Department is located at the Madison City Hall, 100 Hughes Road.

Public Wi-Fi Access Hotspots In Madison - An update to this item, first reported in 2009. The free, public access Wi-Fi is up at Palmer Park and in City Hall. As background, in 2009 Council approved a three year agreement with Traveller, a local wireless communications company, to provide FREE wireless hotspots in the city in exchange for use of tower space on an existing, city owned communications tower on Rainbow Mountain.

School Safety Task Force Recommendations - Council approved two items from the Task Force's final report. We increased the number of School Resource Officers (SROs) and approved new equipment that will enhance Fire/Police communications in the schools. The Board of Education approved Columbia Elementary School Principal Mr. Dennis James as the Student Support/Safety/Security and Communication Coordinator  Details of the Task Force's final report can be viewed here. The city will continue to work with the Board of Education to implement other recommendations.

Get Your Pink MFD T-Shirt - The Madison Fire Department is supporting the Liz Hurley Breast Cancer Foundation by selling pink MFD T-Shirts with proceeds going toward breast cancer research. Stop by MFD Station #1 (Adjacent to City Hall) and purchase one for $15. The Mayor and City Council sported a T- shirt at the 26 July Council meeting to show our support for this local program.

July 2010

Happy 4th of July! - Please be safe this holiday. As a retired Marine Ammunition Specialist who got to blow up some really neat stuff, I learned to respect what even a small amount of explosives can do...be safe out there. Also, make sure you have a designated driver should you decide to enjoy an adult beverage. Above all, remember the significance of this day to our Nation!

Madison City 4th of July Celebration - The City of Madison will hold it's annual 4th of July celebration at Dublin Park on Sunday, July 4th starting at 2 PM. This year's celebration includes children's games, inflatables, a water slide, a band, and, of course - FIREWORKS. A 20 minute fireworks display is planned that will start at dark. A free shuttle will be provided from the Bob Jones High School parking lot. Read more about this event on the City of Madison website. Hope to see you there!

Don't Forget to Vote on July 13th - Run-off elections from the June Primary will be held on Tuesday, July 13th. You will vote at the same location as you did for the Primary. Residents of District 7 vote at the Madison Assembly of God Church located at 1475 Hughes Road. Polls will be open from 7 AM to 7 PM. This election is every-bit as important as the Primary as we will decide party candidates for several state-wide and local offices.

Bob Jones High School Makes Newsweek List...again - BJHS has once again made the Newsweek Top 1500 High Schools in America List. The "Bob" advanced to #808 this year, up from #1302 in the 2009 ranking. BJHS is one of only two high schools in North Alabama to make the list. Read the Newsweek report here.  Go Patriots!

District 7 Community Meeting - We held a community meeting on June 7th at the Ashley Green Recreation Association Clubhouse. Twelve residents attended the meeting with me and the City Engineer to discuss Gooch Lane and other community concerns. Although I've discussed Gooch Lane extensively in the monthly newsletters, I realize some residents were not aware of the newsletter and the timely information provided. Thanks to everyone that was able to attend and I hope the information was helpful.

Road Work - The City has taken the first steps towards adding on/off ramps on Countyline and I-565; Right of Way acquisition. This project was announced last year but has been delayed for several reasons. I'll continue to provide updates as they become available.  In other work, the caution signs are up for the next major road project in Madison; the Wall Triana at Hwy 72 improvements.  Dual turn lanes, similar to those recently added on Hwy 72 at Hughes Road to address the left hand turn stacking during peak traffic hours on Hwy 72 (view the drawings here). This project is a joint State/City project.  Please use caution as the road will remain open during construction. Also note that fines are doubled when workers are present...watch your speed!

Texting and Driving - Council began discussing an ordinance that, if passed, would ban texting while driving in the City of Madison. Most residents are aware that the City of Huntsville is considering a similar ordinance. One of my concerns is to reduce the confusion should one city pass an ordinance and the other not. It is very difficult to determine if you are driving in Madison, Huntsville or Madison County.

At this point we are using Huntsville's draft ordinance as a model. There are parts of the ordinance that I support, and parts I oppose. For instance; I do not support jail time for repeat offenders. However, I support that the ordinance would allow drivers to text while their vehicle is stopped in traffic such as at a stop-light. Otherwise I'm afraid we are on a slippery slope of banning the use of cell phones all together; I do not support that. I'd like to hear your comments/concerns on this issue. Please email me so that I will have your comments as Council moves forward with discussing this matter.

Of note, I recently attended a meeting sponsored by AT&T at Bob Jones High School were students signed a pledge to NOT text and drive.  The program coordinator had us look at the last text we received on our phone and asked "was that text worth loosing your life for as you read it while driving" - startling when you think about it and of course, the answer is no! I encourage you as parents to continue to help set the example and avoid texting while driving.

School Safety Task Force - Council formally recognized The Task Force for their volunteer efforts and dedication at a recent Council meeting. The Task Force made a public presentation of their final report at a joint City Council and Board of Education meeting in May. Details of the final report can be viewed here. The city will continue to work with the Board of Education to implement the Task Force's recommendations.

Protecting Our Community - The Madison Police Department has initiated a program aimed at keeping our neighborhoods safe from property crime and speeding drivers. You can read more about the program here. A newly appointed Community Officer, Lt. John Stringer heads up the program and can be reached at (256) 772-5658 (Office) or (256) 990-0286 (Cell) or via email .

Dog Park - This project has been a long time coming! Council approved a conceptual drawing to move forward with building a dog park at the Mill Creek Greenway, near the Mill Creek Elementary School. Work on the park should begin soon. I'm looking forward to taking our dogs, Sandie and Max (both pound rescues) to the park! They already enjoy Rainbow Mountain with the family in the fall and winter months.

Animal Control Ordinance - City Council will consider a moratorium on the new fees approved in the update to the Animal Control Ordinance at a meeting in July.

I voted against the update at the meeting in May because it increased the annual fees from $5 to $10 per pet. My logic was that estimates showed only 20% of pets are registered; we should increase awareness to address the 80% of the population not registered rather than increase the fees on the 20% that are registered.

Council will consider a resolution to place a 60 day moratorium on the fee increase to encourage pet owners to register their pets. The Animal Control Division will also work to increase awareness of the program and the need for residents to have their pet vaccinated against rabies. Of note, this ordinance also introduced a 3 year license option now that the state approved a 3 year rabies vaccination. The city is working to increase the efficiency of obtaining pet licenses to include an online option. Animal licenses are available at the Police Department Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Police Department is located at the Madison City Hall, 100 Hughes Road.

Gillespie Rd and Balch Rd Rezone Request -  Council voted on a request to rezone property located at the SW corner of Gillespie Rd and Balch Rd from residential to light commercial; the request passed 5 - 2.  I voted against this request (as I did on the request for the NE corner earlier this year) because I feel that the city needs a long-term development plan. I don't like surprises, and feel that the people who purchased homes in Walden Preserve were surprised by this rezoning.  As previously stated, I fully support growth in our city but feel that it must be well defined and controlled in such a way as to complement existing development. We must minimize impact on residents while respecting property owner rights. All in all, a delicate balance.

Vacation Safety - If you are heading out of town for a vacation this summer remember to have your mail held at the post office (stop by and talk with the Postmaster) and to have your paper delivery stopped. You should also consider having a trusted neighbor watch your home. You can also request to have the Madison Police Department to conduct periodic vacation checks while you are away. The request form can be downloaded here.

June 2010

Memorial Day Service in Madison - Monday, May 31st - A Memorial Day Service will be held on the Village Green in Madison (downtown - near the roundhouse) starting at 10:55 AM. Please take the time to remember those who've paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation.

Remember to Vote -Tuesday June 1st - Polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM. Residents of District 7 no longer vote at Discovery Middle School - this has been changed to the Madison Assembly of God Church located at 1475 Hughes Road. The church is located a little north of DMS, before the Bradford Farms Subdivision.

If other readers of this newsletter are not sure where to vote, the Alabama Secretary of State has a great online tool that will help you determine where to vote. Don't assume it's the same location as the last time, several changes were made in both Madison and Limestone County for the 2010 election.

Above all - exercise your American right to vote! Early predictions are that only 40% of registered voters will actually vote on June 1st.

Lastly, as most readers know - I am running for the Alabama State Senate but I will not be on the Primary ballot on June 1st as I do not have a primary opponent.

Community Meeting - Monday 7 June, 6:30 PM at Ashley Green Recreation Association Clubhouse (117 Bay Pointe Lane). I would like to extend an opportunity for residents of District 7 to meet with me and the City Engineer at a community meeting to discuss Gooch Lane and other community concerns. Although I've discussed Gooch Lane extensively in the monthly newsletters, I now realize some residents are not aware of the newsletter and the timely information provided.

I've been contacted by Mr. Matt Carter and Mr. Steven Stern, residents of Ashley Green, who've expressed concerns about the condition of Gooch Lane.  Mr. Carter contacted Steve Johnson at WHNT Channel 19 who did a "Driving You Crazy" segment on Gooch Lane. You can view the segment here - Driving You Crazy. I will share Mr. Carter's and Mr. Stern's email concerns at the meeting so that residents can hear first hand the city's answers to their concerns and our plan to repave/widen Gooch Lane. I look forward to meeting everyone. I've also contacted Steve Johnson and provided him with information on the repaving and possible widening of Gooch Lane.

School Safety Task Force - The Task Force made a public presentation of their final report at a joint City Council and Board of Education meeting in May. Details of the final report can be viewed here. The city will work with the Board of Education to begin implementing the Task Force's recommendations.

Road Work - The caution signs are up for the next major road project in Madison; the Wall Triana at Hwy 72 improvements.  Dual turn lanes, similar to those recently added on Hwy 72 at Hughes Road to address the left hand turn stacking during peak traffic hours on Hwy 72 (view the drawings here). This project is a joint State/City project.  Please use caution as the road will remain open during construction.

Animal Control Ordinance - City Council approved an update to the Animal Control Ordinance at a Council meeting in May. I voted against the update because it increased the annual fees from $5 to $10 per pet. My logic was that as estimates showed only 20% of pets are registered, we should increase awareness to address the 80% of the population not registered rather than increase the fees on the 20% that are registered. It's important to note that the fees collected support our Animal Control division and fees have not been increased in at least 10 years.

The Animal Control Division does much more than pick up the stray dog or cat that's roaming the neighborhoods.  Animal Control will also come to your home and remove a skunk, snake or other pest from your backyard. I support the program but not the increase in fees.

Another improvement of this ordinance is we've introduced a 3 year license now that the state has approved a 3 year rabies vaccination. We are working to increase the efficiency of obtaining pet licenses.

10 Digit Dialing - Starting June 5th our local calling area will require 10 digit dialing, meaning the area code must be dialed when placing a local call from a wired or wireless phone. If you are like me, having only programmed the 7 digit number into your cell phone, you'll need to add the "256" to those entries in your address book.

Text To Protect - The Madison Police Department has set up a Text To Protect Tip Line for residents to report suspicious activity, whether in the neighborhood or at school. Residents can confidentially text, call or email information to the line 24 hours a day. The number is 256-604-2345 or Texttoprotect@madisonal.gov. Read more about the program on the City Website.

Texting and Driving - I attended a meeting sponsored by AT&T at Bob Jones High School were students signed a pledge to NOT text and drive.  The program coordinator had us look at the last text we received on our phone and asked "was that text worth loosing your life for as you read it while driving" - startling when you think about it and of course, the answer is no! I encourage you as parents to help set the example and avoid texting while driving.

Madison Farmer's Market - This is one of those things that makes our town so special. I rank it right up there with the Homecoming and Christmas Parades held on Hughes Road...small town Americana at its best! If you've never visited before, the Madison Farmers Market is in it's 4th year and is held each Saturday morning at Discovery Middle School from 8:00 until noon.

Last Thing - Summer is Here and that means the children will be out, please use caution while driving through the neighborhoods and watch your speed.

May 2010

Remember to Vote June 1st - It may seem strange to start the May Newsletter reminding you to vote on June 1st, but the state-wide Primary Election will be here before you know it. Memorial Day falls on May 31st this year and our Primary Election is the next day.

We will determine party tickets for the November 2nd General Elections at the June 1st Primary - selecting state-wide candidates for Governor, Lt Governor, State Treasurer, etc, all the way to Sheriff, State School Board members and even U.S. Congress. Please take the time to research and learn about each candidate and make plans to vote on June 1st.

As most readers know - I am running for the Alabama State Senate. I will not be on the Primary ballot in June as I do not have a primary opponent.

* Not registered to vote? Madison City straddles two counties; Madison County residents of Madison can download voter registration forms at this link. Limestone County residents of Madison can download voter registration forms at the Limestone County link.

* Not sure where to vote? The Alabama Secretary of State has a great online tool that will help you determine where to vote. Don't assume it's the same as last time, several changes were made in both Madison and Limestone County for the 2010 election.

Watch City Council Meetings on TV - Residents can now watch the City Council meetings on Knology Channel 42 or, as it is streamed online on the city website. You can follow along with the online agenda as well.  The agenda is normally posted on the Friday before the Monday Council meeting. Council meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 6 PM. The live feed of the council meetings will start at 6 PM as well.  At this time we do not plan to record/replay the meetings as we do not have the capability to do so. We plan to revisit this later in the year.

School Safety Task Force - The Task Force made a public presentation of their preliminary report at a joint City Council and Board of Education meeting in April. Details of the report can be viewed here. A final report is scheduled to be presented sometime in May.

Congratulations Bob Jones High School Senior Class of 2010! Graduation ceremony will be held at the Von Braun Center on May 20th at 5PM. Due to fire code restrictions (yes, the BJHS Senior Class has grown that large!) graduates are limited to 9 tickets for family friends to attend. There is no cost for the tickets and they will be issued to the graduate in advance. If you have questions please contact the BJHS at 772-2547.

Road Work - The dual turn lanes on Hughes Road are now open and have greatly eased traffic flow through the intersection from Hwy 72. Similar work will begin on Hwy 72 at Wall Triana, addressing the left hand turn stacking during peak traffic hours on Hwy 72. Please continue to use caution as drivers adjust to the new traffic patterns.  I am aware of a couple of issues at the Gooch and Hughes Road intersection (I drive this daily) and will work with the city to address these concerns. We certainly need a sign alerting drivers that the right hand lane on Hughes Road ends at Gooch. I've seen a couple of drivers end up on the sidewalk...of course it would help if people would simply slow down, and be courteous drivers, allowing others to merge.

Gooch Rd - Please remember that the speed limit on Gooch is 35 MPH.  We have been successful in having the truck traffic diverted to Hwy 72 rather than using Gooch Road.  Public Works has done a good job of repairing the road as best they can under it's current condition.  We plan to fully repair the road once the City of Huntsville completes the Balch/Hwy 72 project. Gooch remains a detour route until that project is complete.

Madison PD Drug Bust - The Madison Police Dept has been hard at work; over the past two weeks alone they have recovered over 200 pounds of marijuana. The latest arrest came during a routine traffic stop by two alert patrolmen. The bust captured 70 pounds of marijuana, $70K dollars in cash and several weapons. Best part, two drug traffickers are off the street! We also had a Meth Lab blow up in an apartment complex. All of this is very concerning but thanks to the men and women of both the Madison Fire and Madison Police for their hard work. Criminals are going to operate somewhere - we will continue to do our part to ensure it's not in Madison!

Weather Safety - The recent tornados that struck parts of eastern Alabama made me review my family and neighborhood emergency plans. Always a good time to review your plan, meet with neighbors, and ensure some basic supplies are on hand (water, food, first aid kits, gloves, etc). Also, remember that while we may escape significant damage we could be without power for several days. Be prepared and don't forget supplies for your pets!

Madison 10K - A Run Through The Roses - Saturday, May 1st is the 10K Run Through The Roses.  The race starts and finishes at Bob Jones High School (view the route here) and roads will begin closing at 6:45 Saturday morning. There is a two hour race limit so all roads should be clear no later than 9:30. Proceeds from the race benefit the Children’s Living Library at the Madison City Library. Please note - YOU CANNOT register the day of the race.

April 2010

From my family to yours; Happy Easter. As the weather changes and spring begins to take shape, it is awesome to see God's work; renewing the world around us in so many ways...for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life - John 3:16.

Census 2010 - Hopefully you've received and completed your US Census form.  The Holtzclaw family sent ours back last week and I can attest that it takes less than 10 minutes to compete the form..and that was with me getting in the way of Pam filling it out!

The Following is from Mayor Finley regarding the importance of completing the Census:

For every form filled out and returned, the local area receives $1200 annually. The census is conducted every 10 years, so each person accounted for calculates into $12,000 over 10 years. Madison is working off of our 2000 census that had us at just over 29,000. Our estimates put Madison well over 40,000 now…imagine the difference in funding when we are fully counted! By turning in your census form, you are helping Madison and the Tennessee Valley reach goals of increased funding for education, infrastructure, and roads.

Sales Tax vs. Property Tax Vote - I posted a detailed update to the QSCB and Property Tax Referendum in late March (Click here to read the update). As of this writing (4/1/2010), the BRAC Bill (SB442) continues to be debated in Montgomery. I will continue to monitor and provide updates as they become available.

School Task Force - The Task Force established in February to provide recommendations for the city with respect to the Discovery Middle School shooting has held several meetings. A web page has been created and allows for public feedback. Plans call for the Task Force to present a preliminary report to the Mayor, Council and School Board in April.

Road Work - The biggest news in this area is that the Eastview Extension opened in late March. It is a wonderful road and provides another east/west artery for traffic on Hughes Rd and Wall Triana. I caution residents that there is still some work to be done so please drive carefully and watch for road crews at work.

Also, the work on Hwy 72 at Hughes Rd, a joint State/City project, is almost complete. The dual turn lanes are now open, easing traffic flow through the intersection. Please use caution as drivers adjust to the new traffic patterns and as road crews complete their work.  Once this is complete, similar work will be done west on Hwy 72 at Wall Triana to extend the left hand turn lane. The overall goal is to alleviate the stacking that occurs during rush hour on Hwy 72.

Gooch Rd - Please remember that the speed limit on Gooch is 35 MPH.  I've asked Public Works to continue to repair the road as best they can under it's current condition until we can fully repair the road; this road needs to be widened and repaved. I drive this road daily and fully realize it is literally falling apart, however, as this portion of Gooch is currently a part of the detour route for Balch Rd at Hwy 72 (being widened in conjunction with the hospital construction) we obviously cannot tear up both Balch and Gooch.

Council Work Session - Council will hold a work session on Wed, 7 April from 5 -7:30 PM at City Hall. Topics range from televising our Council meetings to include continued discussions on our city's growth.  Council is actively engaged with Mayor and department heads to develop a solid, long range plan to promote controlled growth in our city.

Wi-Fi Hotspots In Madison - An update to this item, first reported in 2009; Traveller - a local wireless communications company, has completed installation of equipment and secured the airwave permits needed for this service. It has taken a little longer than expected but the service should come on line in late April or early May. As background, in 2009 Council approved a three year agreement with Traveller to provide FREE wireless hotspots at Palmer Park and Dublin Park in exchange for use of tower space on an existing, city owned communications tower on Rainbow Mountain.

Madison 10K - A Run Through The Roses - The City of Madison is hosting a 10K run on May 1st...only one month away! The race starts and finishes at Bob Jones High School (view the route here). Registration is $20 with proceeds from the race benefitting the Children’s Living Library at the Madison City Library. Please note - YOU CANNOT register the day of the race. I plan to run, have registered but need to start training more! Visit the website and download a registration form here.

March 2010

School Task Force - A Task Force was established to provide recommendations for the city with respect to the Discovery Middle School shooting that occurred in early February. The Task Force will be Co-chaired by Bob Drolet (Brig Gen, Retired) and Mary Jane Caylor (former Huntsville City Schools Superintendent and State School Board Member). The initial membership of this group will expand as needed to include diversity from the community and business owners, parents, students and teachers. A basic webpage has been established for the Task Force and provides details on their mission and initial membership. Plans call for the webpage to be updated in the coming days with a means for the public to provide additional information to the Task Force. The group met for the first time on 26 February and an initial report is due from the committee in approximately 45 days. The group will report back to the Mayor, Council and Board of Education.

Gillespie Rd and Balch Rd Rezone Request -  Council voted on a request to rezone property located at the NW intersection of Gillespie Rd and Balch Rd from agricultural (AG) to residential and commercial. The residential rezoning request from AG to R3 passed 7 - 0 (with a Not To Exceed 300 Home cap on the development). The commercial rezoning request from AG to B2 - light commercial passed in a 5 - 2 vote (approximately four acres located at the corner of the intersection along Gillespie Rd). I voted against the commercial rezoning request because I feel that the city needs a long-term development plan. I don't like surprises, and feel that the people who purchased homes across the street from this development were surprised by this rezoning as every indication was that this area would remain residential. Let me be clear, I fully support growth in our city but feel that it must be well defined and controlled in such a way as to complement existing development. We must minimize impact on residents while respecting property owner rights. All in all, a delicate balance. The Council and Mayor are diligently working with others to develop a plan that will identify commercial and residential growth areas in our city. There will be opportunities for public involvement and I will provide details on those meetings when they become available.

Madison 10K - A Run Through The Roses - The City of Madison is hosting a 10K run on May 1st 2010. The race starts and finishes at Bob Jones High School. Early registration is available on line for $15 through March 31st. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Children’s Living Library at the Madison City Library. I plan to run...and need to start training!

RAD Course - The Madison Police Department has opened registration for the Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) basic physical defense course offered 15 - 19 March 2010. This free, weeklong, class is designed for the specific needs of women, ages 12 and up. Courses are offered in a 3 hour format, four weeknights (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) from 6pm-9pm at Dublin Park. Click here for more information and to register.

Madison Family of the Year - The annual Family of the Year program is accepting nominations through the end of March. The goal of the program is to recognize families in our community that maintain wholesome family values and live their lives in a way to promote the qualities of family life that make the City of Madison a desirable place to live. Read more about the program and download an application here.

Gooch Rd - I am working with Council to move Gooch Road up on the Capitol Improvement Projects List; this road needs to be widened and repaved. I drive this road daily and fully realize it is literally falling apart. However, this portion of Gooch is currently a part of the detour route for Balch Rd at Hwy 72 as this road is being widened in conjunction with the hospital construction and obviously we cannot tear up both Balch and Gooch. Also, please remember that the speed limit on Gooch is 35 MPH. I've asked Public Works to fill the pot-holes and repair the road as best they can under it's current condition until we can fully repair the road.

Garbage Can Repair - Have you ever come home to a broken garbage can...one of the wheels laying off to the side, wondering how in the world that happened. Better yet, who do I call to fix it? Well, this recently happened at our house and I thought I'd share with others how to request a repair/replacement can. In the city of Madison our garbage collection is provided by the Madison County Sanitation Dept. You can call them at 256-532-3718 or 256-532-1512 and they will schedule for someone to come out on the next garbage pick-up date to either replace or repair the damaged can.

BJHS State & National Championships - Our Bob Jones Patriots continue to dominate in several areas over the last month. Congratulations to all on the following championships:

Girls Cheerleading Team - 5th Time CONSECUTIVE - National Champs!
Boys Basketball Team - 6A State Champs
Girls Basketball Team - Runner-up 6A State Champs

February 2010

Sales Tax vs. Property Tax Vote - At the Madison City Council meeting on 25 January,  Council approved in a 6 - 1 vote to move forward with the process to allow the people of the city of Madison to be able to vote on whether or not to replace the 1/2 cent sales tax for the new high school with an 8 Mil property tax (also known as an ad valorem tax). The resolution now goes to our local legislators as we have asked for their support in guiding this through the legislative hurdles in Montgomery. Our State Constitution requires legislative action to approve local referendums such as this to be placed on a local ballot. Please share your thoughts with our legislators representing the city of Madison (House Members may be contacted here, Senate Members may be contacted here, if you are not sure who your representative is - click here and enter your zip code).

I want to note that at the council meeting we heard from a large group of people (business owners and residents) who did not support a property tax increase. I also want to be clear that my personal convictions in supporting this process as it moves forward are not that I support the property tax increase, but rather that I support the people of Madison having the right to vote on the matter. Fundamentally - I do not support 7 members of a city council preventing the 20,000 plus registered voters in the city of Madison from being able to exercise their right to vote. Assuming our legislators are successful in clearing the hurdles in Montgomery and we are allowed to hold a local election in 2010 - I encourage every resident to seek out information, form an opinion, and exercise your right to vote on this matter. Make your voice heard at the polls - vote!

Following are some additional facts on this matter for you to consider:

The Ordinance passed by council on 23 November 2009, raising a 1/2 cent sales tax to repay the Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) loan to build a new high school included two sunset provisions. The first sunset provision automatically rescinds the sales tax should the residents of Madison, through a majority vote, approve an ad valorem increase to repay the loan (see page 7, Section 8 of the ordinance). The second includes a binding sunset clause by which the 1/2 cent sales tax is automatically rescinded on 12/31/2024 (see page 8, Section 9 of the ordinance linked above).

The ad valorem referendum will not have a sunset provision included in the language of the referendum, however, the Madison City Council and the Board of Education passed resolutions supporting rescinding the ad valorem increase, should it pass by majority vote, when the QSCB loan is paid off.  This is a function of our State Constitution in that the only route the city could take to have this referendum come exclusively before the residents of the city of Madison was to follow a Constitutional Amendment which limits additional language such as a sunset provision from being added into the referendum. We had other options, allowing the language to be inserted in the referendum, but those options allow for residents outside of the city of Madison to be able to vote on the matter. Council felt that the vote - in favor of or opposing the increase - should be limited to those who are affected by the outcome of the vote, and therefore followed the path limiting the vote exclusively to the residents of the City of Madison.

The Board of Education recommended an 8 mil property tax increase to replace the 1/2 cent sales tax increase. An 8 Mil increase equals a $80 annual increase per $100,000 of assessed value on private property and a $160 annual increase per $100,000 of assessed value on business property (private property is assessed at 10% of assessed value while business property is assessed at 20%).

Lastly - I recognize that a vote was held county-wide in 2008 for a school tax and it was defeated. But there is more to that story - that vote was for a 1/2 cent sales tax county-wide to be used for education, county-wide, with no sun-set provision. Many people voted against that increase (myself included) because there was no guarantee of when or where a school was to be built. By the way, the breakdown on the numbers within the city of Madison on that vote were 43% in favor and 57% opposed with 4,702 residents voting in Madison.

How Much Will The New High School Cost? The projected cost of the new high school continues to be a topic of discussion as I meet with people in Madison. Most notably, the press continues to print a $65M cost - this was an estimated cost developed in the spring of 2009 as a starting point. This cost has since been adjusted downward as projected building cost has dropped from $160 per square foot to around $150 per square foot.  Additionally, people often compare Madison's new high school with Huntsville's new Lee High School; the Lee High School price tag came in at $35M. Why is Madison's so much higher?  For starters, the number of students.  According to a November 2009 Huntsville Time's article, Lee will be built for 1,200 students while Madison's new school will be built for 2,000; of course that means Madison's school will be bigger and therefore will cost more. But the biggest difference is that the published number of $35M for Lee is for "Brick & Mortar" only and does not include other costs such as furnishings, band and athletic facilities, etc - the actual cost, buried in the article linked above is $42.5M...note this does not include athletic fields. The projected cost for Madison's school is "Turn-Key" - complete with all of the above.

Board of Education - Applications will be accepted through 26 February 2010 for a position on the Madison City School Board. Applications may be downloaded here or picked up and submitted at the City Clerk's Office at City Hall. In March, Council will begin the process of reviewing the applications and ultimately interviewing applicants in a public forum. We plan to fill the position in April/May time frame, prior to the BOE organizing for the new school year. Madison's BOE is a Council appointed board and is not bound by district lines. Terms on the school board expire on a staggered basis and are for a 5 year term.

Gillespie Rd and Balch Rd Rezone Request - This will come up for a vote at the February 8th Council meeting.  The owner of property located at the NW intersection of Gillespie Rd and Balch Rd has requested that the property be rezoned from agricultural (AG) to residential and commercial. The residential rezoning request is for R3 and the Planning and Zoning Commission placed a - Not To Exceed 300 Home cap on the development. The commercial rezoning request is for B2 - light commercial and is approximately four acres located at the corner of the intersection along Gillespie Rd.  The Planning and Zoning Commission approved by majority vote the AG to B2 request at its December meeting.

Council Work Session - Council held a four hour work session on Monday, 25 January from 1 - 5 PM. Topics centered around our city's growth and refining our Comprehensive Plan (last updated in 2001) and the Future Land Use Plan. Council is actively engaged with Mayor and department heads to develop a solid, long range plan to promote controlled growth in our city. We will seek public input as we refine the plan and I will keep everyone updated on future meetings.

Road Work - Our Engineering Dept continues to work around the abundance of rain we are receiving. The Eastview extension from Hughes to Wall Triana only needs a few days of normal, dry temperatures for the paving to go down. I'm sure you've noticed the traffic lights going up as well. This will be another great improvement to the east - west traffic flow in our city.

The work being conducted at the north intersection of Balch Rd and Hwy 72 is the city of Huntsville. This is being done to accommodate the increased traffic due to the Madison Hospital that is being built on the east side of that intersection. This is an extensive project and Balch to Gooch will be closed for approximately 10 months.

Police Station Addition -  A part of our long range capital improvement plan is to expand the Madison Police Department by building on an addition to the existing location on the north side of city hall. In conjunction with this project is the re-roofing of City Hall to repair damage from the hail storms over the summer.

Home Robbery Reported - I received report of a home robbery occurring in the Ashley Green Sub-Division. The robbery occurred sometime between 7:30 and 4:30 on Thursday the 28th of January; electronics and jewelry were taken. Madison experienced a rash of home burglaries last summer attributed to out-of-town criminals "working" our area as an easy target. Please remember to lock your home, keep garage doors closed and watch for suspicious activity in and around your neighborhood. Do not hesitate to call the Madison Police Department's non-emergency line at 772-5675 to report suspicious activity. Of course you should call 9-1-1 for emergencies.

January 2010

From my family to yours; Happy New Year - wishing you and yours a blessed 2010!

Property Tax Vote - In December, the Madison City Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution asking the city to move forward with the process to replace the 1/2 cent sales tax with an 8 Mil property tax increase on a city-wide election in 2010. The city has scheduled a Public Hearing for 6 PM on 25 January at city hall. After the Public Hearing the council will vote whether or not to move forward in the process. Please note, Council's vote does not put the property tax increase in place, it is simply the next step, following the Alabama Constitution which asks our local legislators to support the city in getting this issue on a ballot for a vote by the people of the city of Madison.

Assuming our legislative delegation is successful in Montgomery and Madison is allowed to hold a local vote, and should the property tax vote be approved by a majority vote, the sales tax increase will be rescinded. If the property tax vote does not pass, then the sales tax will remain in place. This is the sunset provision outlined in the ordinance (see Sections 8 and 9) that raised the 1/2 cent sales tax. Two clear camps have begun to emerge on this issue, one in favor of a property tax increase to replace the sales tax and one opposed to a property tax increase. I encourage everyone to study the pros and cons of the issue and then - most importantly - make your voice heard by voting on the issue.

Gillespie Rd and Balch Rd Rezone Request - The owner of property located at the NW intersection of Gillespie Rd and Balch Rd has requested that the property be rezoned from agricultural (AG) to residential and commercial. The residential rezoning request is for R3 and the Planning and Zoning Commission placed a - Not To Exceed 300 Home cap on the development. The commercial rezoning request is for B2 - light commercial and is approximately four acres located at the corner of the intersection along Gillespie Rd.  The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the AG to B2 request in 6 - 2 vote at its December meeting.

The request now comes to council for final approval and a public hearing is scheduled for 6 PM on 8 February at the City Hall. As always, feedback from the public is important to me on matters such as these. On one hand, just two months ago, the public made it very clear that the city needs to do more to increase economic development in our city so that our sales tax base could help pay for things like a second high school. On the other hand, I attended the P&Z Meeting and listened to residents who live directly across from the proposed rezoning cite numerous reasons why this should not be approved at that location. Please email me and let me know your position on this matter. Additionally, there has been some miss-information distributed on what R3 and B2 zoning codes mean. I'm providing a link to the zoning codes so that residents can read exactly what type of development is allowed in areas zoned as such.

MARF Donation - The Alpha Foundation, a local philanthropic organization donated $38,000 to Madison Animal Rescue Foundation to be used for operations and facility improvements. As a resident of Madison I am very appreciative of the generosity shown by the Alpha Foundation!

Road Work - Our Engineering Dept continues to work several projects around town. The much needed bridge replacement on Brownsferry Road is moving along on schedule.  Traffic has been detoured around the closed area along Sullivan Street, Mill Road and Balch Road. The Eastview Extension continues to move along nicely despite the weather delays.  The base supports for the traffic signals are in place and the lights should be going up soon. Hopefully the rain will hold off and the paving can start when the base dries out. A fact sheet and drawings of the project can be viewed here.

Also, note the work on Hwy 72 at Hughes Rd is a joint State/City project that will ultimately improve the Hughes Rd/Hwy 72 intersection so that we will have two, left-hand turn lanes southbound from Hwy 72 onto Hughes and two, left-hand turn lanes northbound on Hughes to Hwy 72 west. A fact sheet and drawings of the project can be viewed here. This project is planned for completion in April 2010. Similar work will be done further west on Hwy 72 at Wall Triana to extend the left hand turn lane. This will alleviate the stacking that occurs during rush hour on Hwy 72, waiting to go south on Wall Triana. Please be patient and watch your speed while traveling through the construction zones.

Madison Police Survey - Madison's Police Department is asking for citizen's help through completing a public safety survey. The survey, which will be available on line until 28 February, contains 21 questions and can be answered anonymously. You can complete the survey at this link.

Bradford Creek Greenway - Council awarded a bid to begin construction of Phase I of the Bradford Creek Greenway which will run from Heritage Elementary School to Palmer Park. Three phases are planned for the Greenway which will link a significant part of the city via walking and biking trails. Construction of Phase I will begin in the Spring of 2010.