December 2009

Updated 11 December 2009: I posted an Opinion - Editorial essay on the recent changes to the interest free loan that we were informed of this week.  Read the essay here.

Wow - the end of 2009 is upon us; that happened fast.  My hope is that you and yours will have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.  Please remember, as busy as we will be over the next few weeks - Jesus IS the reason for the season!

Sales Tax Increase - I'm certain by now that everyone is aware that Council voted 5 - 1 in favor of raising the half-cent sales tax locally in order to secure a $36M interest free loan in Qualified School Construction Bonds, a part of the federal stimulus package. This money will go with the $22.5M that was realized through the Madison City Board of Education refinancing existing loans for a total of $58.5M available to Madison to build a second high school.  Plans call for the school to be open in the fall of 2012.

As a City Councilman, public feedback was instrumental in my voting in favor of the tax increase.  I truly appreciate everyone that contacted me and those that were able to attend any of the five community meetings held regarding this matter. 

We will now begin to work details with our local legislature to present legislation to have a property tax referendum placed on the ballot as early as November 2010.  Should the property tax referendum pass, it will replace the sales tax. I will provide updates on the meetings and proposed legislation as they become available.

New High School Donation - In a surprise announcement on December 2nd, the Alpha Foundation, a local philanthropic organization donated $336,000 to Madison City Schools to be used exclusively for the new high school.  As a resident of Madison I am very appreciative of the generosity shown by the Alpha Foundation! 

Road Work - Well, more than just a little road work going on around town. Our Engineering Dept has done their best to keep road blocks to a minimum but we need to move forward with much needed bridge replacement on Brownsferry Road.  Brownsferry will remain closed to through traffic between Wall Triana and Balch for approximately 4 weeks.  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.  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. 

One bright spot - now that construction is complete, council raised the speed limit on the Gilespie Road extension from 35 to 45...watch your speed though, 45 does not mean 50!

County Line Rd and I-565 Interchange Update - I routinely receive questions on the status of this project and just this week The Huntsville Times ran an article providing an update that I'd like to share.  You can read the article here but in short; the construction start date for this project has moved from 2014 to 2012. The original start date announced in February of this year was 2010 but it slipped to 2014 in a Alabama Dept of Transportation (ALDOT) public hearing in July.  We'll continue to watch this and provide updates as they become available.  I view this as one of the most significant road projects for Madison as it will not only alleviate traffic problems in our city, but will be a catalyst for much needed economic development. 

Madison Hospital Groundbreaking - The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking of the Madison Hospital in the Madison Medical Park off Hwy 72 and Balch Rd on Tuesday, December 8th at 11:00 AM.

Madison Christmas Parade - Another one of those events that makes living in a small town such as ours so special - The annual Madison Christmas Parade!  The parade is Saturday, December 12th and starts at 5:30 PM.  The parade route starts at Plaza Drive and Hughes Rd and follows Hughes Rd past City Hall, and ends downtown.  Additional Details are on the City Website...I hear Santa's going to be there!

Madison Cheer Brigade - This is a great annual event in Madison where residents help local military families through donating money and/or buying gifts.  Gifts will be collected at City Hall through December 9th. The gifts will be wrapped and delivered on Friday, December 11th.  You can read more at this link.

City Council President - I am honored to have been elected City Council President by my peers at the November 23rd Council meeting for the 2009 - 2010 term.

Holiday Safety - I asked Chief Muncey, Madison Police Chief, to share some holiday safety tips.  Following are his Top 10 recommendations.

1. Coordinate to pick up newspapers for neighbors traveling.
2. Keep your garage door down even if you are home.
3. Do not place packaging for a new computer or big screen TV on the curb - this is advertising to a thief.
4. Keep gifts/packages in vehicles in the trunk or covered, out of plain site.
5. Keep cars in the garage if possible and lock them if they must remain outside.
6. When paying for something, don't flash large amounts of cash, this is a common reason for older men being robbed.
7. Remove GPS systems from your car or keep out of site when parked. Also, do not program your home address in your GPS unit...use a nearby location. If someone steals your car while you're eating/shopping they now have a map to your house, and usually a garage door opener to get inside. 
8. Never release personal information over the phone...never!
9. Don't give into greed, if it sounds too good to be true...it is. This applies to the fake checks, secret shopper scams and eBay overpayment shams. A typical check deception usually goes something like this...you encounter an individual that cannot get their payroll check cashed (for whatever reason), they offer to sell the check to you for cash at half the value. You accept, place the check in your bank and ten days later it is returned as a fake.
10. Lastly - light a light to stop a thief; keep a light on inside and turn outside lights on at night.

Citizen's Police Academy -  Madison's Police Department is starting a Citizen's Police Academy in January 2010.  The goal of the Citizen Police Academy is to make citizens of Madison more informed individuals by allowing police officers and residents to communicate in an open environment. You can learn more about the program and register to participate at this link.

November 2009

This month marks the beginning of one of my favorite times of the year...Fall has arrived with the leaves seemingly having changed colors overnight!  I always start to think of family gatherings for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but of course I also take time to think about Veteran's Day, honoring those who have served our nation and those who are serving. 

I volunteer with the Semper Fi Community Task Force (SFCTF), a group that hosts the Wounded Warriors in Huntsville during Veteran's Day.  This year, the Wounded Warriors - Marines and Soldiers injured in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan - will arrive in Huntsville on Friday 6 November.  The community is encouraged to come out and show your support for these heroes and their families as they arrive at the Westin Hotel at the Bridge Street Town Center at 4PM.  Hope to see you there!

Now - on to the November Newsletter.

New High School & Potential Sales Tax Increase -  In case you have not heard - last Thursday, Governor Riley announced at Bob Jones High School the distribution of Alabama's $236M in Qualified School Construction Bonds, a part of the federal stimulus package. I attended the news conference where the Governor was highly complimentary of Madison and our successes as a city.  Overall, 46 school systems in Alabama applied for a portion of the funding, and Madison received the largest single slice of funding - $36 Million dollars to be used for construction of a new high school in Madison.

You may have also read that in order for Madison to accept the funding, we must show that we can pay it back.  Yes, the $36M is a loan; the good news is that it is a zero percent interest loan spread out over 15 years.

Following are my thoughts on this issue - supported by facts as I understand them at this very moment - with a few assumptions. 

Please note, these are my thoughts and in no way indicate the thoughts of other council members:

1) Why do we need a new high school?  Bob Jones is overcrowded and several local studies support we need to build a new high school.  Facts are: BJHS is the largest single high school by population in the state of Alabama with almost 2,100 students.  Our two middle schools, Discovery and Liberty are also overcrowded - with almost 2,000 students distributed between the two schools in buildings designed for approx 800 students.  Should we build a new high school, we can solve overcrowding in all three schools as the ninth graders - currently in the middle schools - will be moved into the high schools. 

2) What is our budget?  The $36M in zero interest Qualified School Construction Bonds, coupled with $22.5M in proceeds from a recent school board bond refinance, places the city at a $58.5M budget to build a new high school. 

3) How much will the school cost?  Initial numbers provided in early 2009 by the State Superintendent to build a new high school showed our cost to be approx $64M. This number is based on cost per square foot per student, and projected number of students who will attend.  Note - this is for a "turn-key" operation: brick and mortar, furnishings, fixtures, band and athletic facilities, etc.  There is no cost for land as the school board already owns the land.   The largest variable involved in the $64M number computation was a projected building cost of $150 per square foot.  Mill Creek Elementary was built for $135 per square foot in 2008 and Lee High School in Huntsville was recently bid at $140 per square foot.  With these, and other adjustments, we will be able to build within the $58.5M budget. 

4) What is the time line for pay-back?  Federal stipulations with the stimulus package require that the state distribute half of the funds by the end of 2009 and the other half by 2010.  This is key to driving our time line for a potential tax increase as once distributed, we will shortly thereafter start to make prinicpal payments. Specific details of that repayment plan have not been finalized by the state but we anticipate having to make a debt service payment in early to mid 2010.  This will be in either a quarterly or semi-annual repayment plan.

5) How can we pay it back?  We need an additional $2.5M annually to pay back the principal on the $36M.  The only way the city can make the principal payments as early as 2010 is to implement a sales tax increase of 1/2 percent by Jan 2010.  Our current sales tax rate is 8%.  According to our Finance and Revenue Departments, conservatively, a 1/2 percent sales tax increase will result in approx $2.5M annual revenue to meet the debt service ($2.5M x 15 years = $37.5M).  Note this assumes a 3% growth in sales tax revenue for the out years.

6) Who will make the sales tax increase decision?  The decision for raising the sales tax is solely on the city council.  Under the current conditions outlined above, if council decides not to pass the sales tax increase, we simply go back to point #1 and are saying that either we don't think we need to build a new high school or, that we are not ready to do so utilizing the zero interest bond money. 

7)  What does the zero interest mean in savings?  The difference between the total cost of money when compared to zero percent and a traditional finance option (based on the most recent bond refinance of 5%) is in the neighborhood of $35M in savings to the city over the life of the loan.  If we pass on this opportunity now, we will significantly increase the overall cost of building a new high school because we cannot afford to make principal payments on a 15 year loan and will be forced to move to a 30 year term with interest owed on principal in the range of 5%. 

8) If we don't have to make payments until 2010, why are we considering raising the sales tax now?  Also driving our timeline is that our Revenue Dept must move forward with planning and assisting local businesses in collecting the sales tax increase. It would be very problematic if businesses have trouble collecting and getting the sales tax increase it to the city in a timely manner as it could then impact our ability to make the debt service. 

9) How long would the tax be in place?  From the start, I have asked that a "sunset" clause be added to the ordinance stipulating that any sales tax increase will expire upon one of two events occurring:  One - the debt is paid off in 15 years or, two - Madison residents approve a property tax millage increase to specifically replace the sales tax increase at which time, within a specified date allowing the property tax increase to be collected, the sales tax would return to the current rate of 8%.  I strongly feel that by placing words to this affect in the ordinance it not only reassures the residents of our commitment but also clearly defines our intent to the future leadership of Madison.  Note - any property tax increase requires a majority vote of Madison city residents.  This would be done through a regular or special election and will take several months to coordinate.

10) Where can you learn more and voice your opinion?  The Mayor and Council will hold "town hall meetings" to listen to residents, answer questions and ensure residents fully understand the decision at hand.  I will post the date of these meetings on the website.  The current time line is to conduct a first reading of the proposed ordinance at the 9 November Council meeting and potentially vote on the increase at the 23 November Council meeting.  Generally speaking, no one is in favor of a sales tax increase but everyone I've talked with has supported doing this and understands the unique situation of the coming together of several key events here; namely the savings of $35M through use of zero percent bonds rather than traditional funding options. 

As always, I welcome your thoughts.  Please feel free to email me and I hope to see you at the town hall meetings.

On to other notes from Council...

Madison Street Festival  - The annual Madison Street Festival was a great success.  This is one of those things that makes living in Madison so much fun and is a tribute to the "small town feel" we are able to maintain in our wonderful community.  Thanks to everyone involved in putting the festival together! 

City Budget - Council passed a continuing budget resolution at a council meeting in September. This means we have placed our 2010 budget on hold and have authorized the city to continue spending in Oct 2009 (the start of our 2010 budget year) at 2009 budget levels.  We held a final budget review meeting in October and will vote on the 2010 budget in November.  We delayed action until now so that we could see the final revenue numbers for 2009, which ended on 30 September 2009.  

As everyone knows, this has been a tough year and while the future looks bright, a full economic recovery is months away. Our 2009 tax revenue numbers were encouraging as the city's revenue department reported a slight increase in the closing months in our general fund sales tax revenues.  Council will continue to closely monitor revenues/expenditures and our city departments continue to keep a close hold on expenses. 

I can never say this enough - residents can certainly help by "Shopping Madison First".  I encourage everyone to take a moment and think about where they shopped over the weekend...could you have made some of those purchases at local stores in Madison? It is essential to our city services to maintain a sales tax revenue base and residents directly support this when they shop Madison businesses.

City Attorney - Council interviewed four very highly qualified attorney's for this position.  We authorized Mayor to extend an offer to Kelly Butler - an attorney working for Decatur.  She accepted and we are happy to welcome her and her family to Madison.

Madison City Disability Advocacy Board (MCDAB) -  MCDAB is conducting a Needs Assessment Survey (link to survey) for the city. The MCDAB was established by Council in 2009 to strengthen public understanding of the needs of persons with disabilities and to ensure that all citizens with disabilities have equal access to the City of Madison’s resources and opportunities.   This survey is intended to be completed by residents of the City of Madison who have a disability as defined by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  The Rehabilitation Act defines a person with a disability as someone who has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits a major life activity such as self-care, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.  Parents or caregivers may complete the survey. Additional information is available at the MCDAB website.

How about those Bob Jones Patriots?  Our football team has made the state playoffs!  The first playoff game is Friday, November 6th at the Madison City Stadium at 7 PM.  Come out and support your Patriots as the pursue the State 6A Football Championship.  Go Patriots!

That's all for now.  From my family to yours - I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.  Please say "Thank You" to a Veteran on Veteran's Day and wish a Marine "Happy 234th Birthday" on the 10th of November.  Semper Fi! 

October 2009

Madison Street Festival  - The annual Madison Street Festival is tomorrow (Saturday, October 3rd)  from 8:45 - 4 PM.  The festival includes a parade , car show and many other activities for the family.  Click here to view the Festival's website.  The weather forecast is great so please come out and support the festival.  This is one of those things that makes living in Madison so much fun and is a tribute to the "small town feel" we are able to maintain in our wonderful community. I hope to meet you there.  Thanks to everyone involved in putting the festival together! 

City Budget and Revenue - Council passed a continuing budget resolution at our last council meeting in September. This means we have placed our 2010 budget on hold and have authorized the city to continue spending in Oct 2009 (the start of our 2010 budget year) at 2009 budget levels.  This was done so that we could see the final revenue numbers for 2009 which ended on 30 September 2009.  We continue to refine the budget, making cuts where we can find them and will hold a budget work session on October 14th at City Hall.  Our plan is to pass the budget no later than our November meeting.  As everyone knows, this has been a tough year and while the future looks bright, a full economic recovery is months away. While our tax revenue numbers are encouraging (the city's revenue department continues to report a slight increase, year to date, in our general fund sales tax revenues) Council will continue to closely monitor revenues and expenditures and our city departments continue to keep a close hold on expenses.  I can never say this enough - residents can certainly help by "Shopping Madison First".  It is essential to our city services to maintain a sales tax revenue base and residents directly support this when they shop Madison businesses.

Fire Station Grant - The City was awarded a $1.4 Million dollar grant from the President's Stimulus package to build a new fire station.  The new station will replace Station #2, across from Discovery Middle School.  This station was deemed uninhabitable in 2008 due to mold.  The new station will be built further south on Hughes Rd on the vacant lot at the corner of Thomas Street. The city will work with neighbors to minimize any impact on them from building the new station.  I will continue to be involved and keep residents informed in the planning, construction phases.  This is great news for the city as funding for this project was budgeted in our long-range capital improvement plan.  We can now move that funding into other areas and continue to improve city services and infrastructure.  Great job to Chief Cobb and everyone involved in the grant application process!

New Madison High School Advisory Committee - This committee will meet again on Monday, October 5th.  I plan to post a special newsletter update after that meeting to provide detailed information and discuss our proposed plan. As always, I need to hear from the residents that I represent in the city on this matter. 

As background, Mayor Finley proposed coordinating this committee as a result of the joint work session between City Council and the Board of Education held in July where the Blue Ribbon Committee Report was presented (a copy of the Blue Ribbon report can be read here). The Mayor's committee consists of 12 Madison residents/business owners and has previously met three times to discuss the various options available to the city. These meetings are open to the public and several members of the public and press have attended. 

Road Construction -  We have experienced a few accidents at the Gillespie and Balch intersection due to drivers on Gillespie not realizing the traffic on Balch does not stop at the intersection.  Council has agreed with the Mayor and City Engineer to make this a 4-way stop for the short term.  This should happen during the month of October.  Once funding is available we plan to install a traffic light.  I drive this intersection daily as I take my daughter to school so I've seen, first hand, the traffic back-ups on Gillespie during school/rush hour.  My concern is we will create a traffic back-log like that on Wall-Triana and Gillespie before the traffic light was installed.  Therefore, I will work closely with fellow Councilmen to make this light a priority. 

On other road construction news, the Balch Road extension at Brownsferry has been completed and is now open - beautiful stretch of road.  This makes for a great route through town from Mill Rd.  The Eastview extension continues to progress...that's some real road building going on over there! As always, please use caution around new intersections as drivers adjust to new traffic patterns. 

City Attorney - Council will interview several applicants for the City Attorney position on Tuesday, October 6th starting at 4 PM.  The previous City Attorney decided to pursue other interest and resigned from the position in July.  We have some great candidates to select from as Madison continues to be a great place to live and work!

Last Thing - How about those Bob Jones Patriots?  I have been able to attend all the home games this year and folks, we've got a football team to be proud of - great talent, great coaching and great sportsmanship.  And the Bob Band - WOW! - looks and sounds like a college band!  Great job to the students, staff and all those parents working behind the scenes - best of luck at tonight's Homecoming Game!  Go Patriots!

September 2009

A bonus to reading the newsletter this month – you are among the first to know that I am announcing my candidacy as a Republican for the Alabama State Senate, District 2 representing Limestone County and Madison County in the 2010 election.  An announcement will run later this week in the Huntsville Times and a Campaign Kick-off/Press Conference will be held in October. 

I’ve set up a website at www.district2.us where you can read more about the campaign. 

I want to make it certain to everyone - I will continue to serve the residents of Madison throughout the upcoming election cycle (Primary Election is June 2010, General Election is November 2010).  I will not campaign from the city council seat nor will I make decisions as a councilman based on campaign rhetoric.  I will continue to be true to the people I represent in the City of Madison.

In November 2010, if I am successful in my bid to represent the people of Limestone and Madison County in Senate District 2, I will then resign from my council duties.  According to Alabama State Law, the remaining Council members will then appoint a resident of Madison living in District 7 to finish out the remaining two years of my term.  I will have a hand in nominating that person but it will be up to the remaining Council to make the decision.

I want to express my thanks for the support I received in seeking my first political office on the Madison city council. I hope I can earn your support in my bid to serve in the Alabama Senate. 

Early on I knew the calling to be a public servant would lead me to increased responsibility and challenges beyond the municipal level; my plan was later down the road…sometimes, our plan is not always God’s plan and I’m answering His call to broaden my scope of representation and responsibility in 2010.

Now – on to September’s newsletter:

Madison Named #2 on top 10 places to grow up in America - The parade of accolades from national publications for our city continued last month.  It is nice to see these publications recognize our great city and we should all be proud of what we've helped accomplish.  Madison is the city it is because of the people that live, work and play here.

- August 2009, US News and World Report selected Madison, Alabama as #2 on the list of 10 Best Places to Grow Up (read the article here). 

- July 2009, CNN/Money Magazine selected Madison, Alabama as #49 on the list of 100 Best Places to Live in 2009 (read the report here).  Madison is the only city in North Alabama to make the list. 

 - June 2009, Bob Jones High School made the Newsweek Top 1500 U.S. High School list for the third year in a row (read the article here).  Only 9 Alabama Schools (Public and Private) made the list, only two of which are in the North Alabama area. 

Contacting Council Members - I want to thank the many residents of District 7 who contact me on a regular basis via email, phone or in person at a Council meeting.  I believe communication between a resident and their city representative is vital to successful city government.  While there are other advocacy groups available for you to anonymously ask questions and voice your concerns through - from my perspective, it is very important that  I hear from the citizen as well as the advocacy group.  Please contact your Councilman directly and make certain your voice is heard.  There are several ways you can contact your City Councilman and the best way to start is via the Madison City Website, Council Webpage.

City's New Website - Speaking of the City's Website, the city launched a new and much improved website early this month.   The site is designed to enhance user ability to interface with the city and its many departments through being able to quickly locate items on the website.  I want to thank everyone involved in developing the website - which came in on time and under budget!   View the site here.

Tax Revenue - The good news continues here, especially in this challenging economy nationwide.  The city's revenue department has reported that our general fund sales tax revenue saw a slight increase year to date (August 2008 to August 2009).  Council continues to closely monitor revenues and expenditures and our city departments continue to keep a close hold on expenses.  You can certainly help by "Shopping Madison First".  It is essential to our city services to maintain a sales tax revenue base and residents directly support this when they shop Madison businesses.

New Madison High School Advisory Committee - Mayor Finley proposed coordinating this committee as a result of the joint work session between City Council and the Board of Education held in July where the Blue Ribbon Committee Report was presented (a copy of the Blue Ribbon report can be read here). This new committee consists of 12 Madison residents/business owners and has since met twice at the Madison City School's Central Office.  These meetings are open to the public and several members of the public and press have attended.  The committee is exploring the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Report to determine the best way forward.  The committee is scheduled to meet again on Monday, 21 September at 3:00 PM in the Central Office.  

Bond Refinance - Council approved the Board of Education to refinance and consolidate existing bonds.  The City's excellent bond rating coupled with the current market conditions and low interest rates resulted in a new interest rate of 5.1% with a net of $22.5 M for the BOE to use in building projects with no increase in annual debt payments.  The BOE has not decided where the new money will be used and is waiting on the results of the New High School Advisory Committee.

Road Construction -  The Mill Road  bridge replacement was completed in August and the Eastview Road extension is taking shape nicely at Wall Triana.  The Gillespie Road extension was opened in late July, completing another much needed east-west traffic artery for the city.  We have experienced a couple of accidents at the Gillespie and Balch intersection due to drivers on Gillespie not realizing the traffic on Balch does not stop at the intersection.  Council is working with the Mayor and City Engineer and considering making this a 4-way stop or, if funding is available from another project, installing a traffic light.  As always, please use caution around new intersections as drivers adjust to new traffic patterns.

Balch Road Widening - The city's current road plan calls for Balch Road to be a five lane road. Since taking office last year, I have been contacted by many residents as this plan would greatly impact those living along Balch Road.  The long-range road plan is being reconsidered by the city.  Everyone agrees the road is long overdue for widening and the plan under consideration is to move forward with a three lane rather than five lane concept.  We are very early in the process, but the engineering work needs to be started.  I'll keep everyone posted on this project. The portion of Balch Road from Gooch, north to Hwy 72 is in the City of Huntsville.  The eastern side of Balch is where the Madison, Huntsville Hospital will be built.  This portion of Balch Road should be a five lane road but it will narrow to three lanes south of Gooch.

City Attorney - Our City Attorney decided to pursue other interest and resigned from her position in July.  Mayor and Council are working with HR to fill the position and have narrowed the list of applicants; interviews will start in the coming weeks.

Dog Park - Council has not lost sight of this action item and I wanted to provide an update.  We continue to look for a location that will appeal to dog owners but have minimal impact on residents.  Additionally, the city attorney was developing the legal aspects of this to protect everyone's interest.  This is an item that the new city attorney will pick up, and we will continue moving forward on this project. 

August 2009

The newsletter is a couple of days late this month - we moved our oldest daughter back into the dorm at UA this weekend.  She is a Resident Assistant (RA) this year so she had to move in two weeks early.  The down-side is that summer has ended too early for us all - the plus side (other than free room and board!) is, WOW - we were the only one's there moving in, unlike last year when the ENTIRE dorm was moving in on the same day.  I highly recommend this to other parents!

Madison Named #49 On List Of Top 100 Cities In America! - CNN/Money Magazine selected Madison, Alabama as #49 on the list of 100 Best Places to Live in 2009. You can read the report here.  Madison is the only city in North Alabama to make the list.  Just last month Bob Jones High School made the Newsweek Top 1500 U.S. High School list for the third year in a row.  It is nice to see these national publications recognize our great city and we should all be proud of what we've helped accomplish.  Madison is the city it is because of the people that live, work and play here.

School Starts Back August 10th - A reminder that schools start back on Monday August 10th.  This will affect morning traffic so please be aware of children crossing the streets, at bus stops in your neighborhoods and school zone's becoming active around the city. 

Council & School Board Work Session - The City Council and Board of Education held a work session on Monday, 6 July at the Central Office to discuss the Blue Ribbon Committee Report. This report was presented to the Board of Education on 11 June and recommended four possible solutions to address the growth in our school system at the high school and two middle schools.   A copy of the Blue Ribbon report can be read here (MS Word format).  A solution from this report is to propose a property tax increase which, in order to pass would require a majority vote of registered voters in the city of Madison.  The Mayor has proposed putting together a group of 12 residents that will review the Blue Ribbon Committee's work and also look at and recommend other possible solutions.  He has started setting up a committee which will begin meeting in early fall.

Tax Revenue - Some good news here; especially in this challenging economy nationwide.  The city's revenue department has reported that our general fund sales tax revenue is essentially flat, year to date (July 2008 to July 2009).  Council continues to closely monitor revenues and expenditures.  You can help by "Shopping Madison First".  It is essential to our city services to maintain a sales tax revenue base and residents directly support this when they shop Madison businesses.

Madison Chamber of Commerce - The Madison Chamber of Commerce announced a new website and logo.  You can visit the site here.  The Chamber's involvement is key in the continued growth of businesses in our community - which of course leads to more choices for residents and continued support of our community through sales tax revenue.  

Madison Business Expo & Kids Day - This annual event will be held August 8th at Dublin Park from 10:00 to 3:00.  Hope to see you there!

Senior Center Van - Thanks to Madison County Commissioner Faye Dyer for donating a NEW 20 seat passenger van to the Madison Senior Center.  Many thanks to Commissioner Dyer for her continued support of Madison residents.

I-565 & County Line Rd Interchange Meeting - A public meeting with ALDOT (Alabama Dept of Transportation) was held on 9 July at Heritage Elementary School to discuss this project which includes a west-bound off-ramp and an east-bound onramp.  This project was announced In March with a completion date of 2012.  There was some confusion at this meeting as ALDOT announced right-of-way acquisition was to occur in 2013 and construction through 2014. We asked for an update from the Governor's office and were told that ALDOT's schedule has not been updated and that the project was moving along as originally proposed for completion in 2012.  We will continue to watch this project and I will provide updates as they become available.

Fire Station #2 - The proposed Fire Station is on the agenda for the Adjustment and Appeals Board meeting scheduled for 6 August at 5:30 PM.  The meeting is at City Hall in Room 311-B (in the basement).  Station #2 is currently located across from Discovery Middle School on Hughes Rd.  Mold was discovered at the current station several months ago and the building was deemed uninhabitable - hence the trailer on the south side of the parking lot as living quarters for the firemen. The city is pursuing federal stimulus grant funding to build the new station.  Council approved the Mayor to purchase the two lots on the corner of Hughes Road and Thomas Street as a possible site for the new location of Fire Station #2.  I will continue to provide updates on this item as they become available.

Road Construction - The Gillespie Road extension was opened in late July, completing another much needed east-west traffic artery for the city.  The Mill Road bridge replacement is underway and the Eastview Road extension is taking shape nicely.  You can view drawings for this project here.

Wi-Fi Hotspots - Update to this item first reported in the May newsletter; Traveller - a local wireless communications company, will begin installing equipment for this service in August.  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, Traveller will provide public Wi-Fi hotspots at the parks and high-speed wireless broadband at City Hall, the Fire Stations and the Public Works Department. 

July 2009

Happy 4th of July! - I hope everyone is having a great weekend.  A reminder that Madison will hold its annual fireworks display at Dublin Park on Saturday, the 4th of July. There will be inflatable slides for the kids, games, and more starting at 1 PM.  Fireworks are scheduled to start at dusk and should last about 20 minutes.  Hope to see you there!

Garbage Pick-up Change -  I've received several phone calls/emails on this topic by concerned residents who assume the city raised the rates to increase revenue.  I would like to clarify the facts surrounding this situation: 
 
First - the City of Madison does not control the rates nor the number of days that garbage is picked up in Madison. This is controlled by The Madison County Commission if you live in the Madison County portion of Madison.  Likewise, if you live in the Limestone County portion of Madison, the Limestone County Commission controls your pick-up and rates. 

The City of Madison does not receive ANY revenue from rates charged by the County Commission.  

Residents of Madison in Madison County pay $13.50 per month on their Huntsville Utilities bill for trash pickup service once a week (until the end of June the service was twice a week). Now that service is only once a week, residents can request a second garbage can for a $5 monthly fee by contacting the Madison County Waste Dept. 

Madison City residents also pay $6 per month on their Madison Utilities bill (formally Madison Water and Wastewater Board). This is for curb-side pickup once a week for items that do not fit in your garbage can - everything from yard debris, limbs, mattresses and appliances. 100% of this revenue returns to the city to help offset the cost of providing this service.

Madison residents do not pay a fee for recycling.  The recycling company servicing our area derives revenue from selling the products they recycle.

The city of Madison falls within two districts of the Madison County Commission.  Commissioner Dale Strong serves District #4 and Commissioner Faye Dyer serves District #2.  A map associated with each Commissioner link will help determine which District you live in.  The next Madison County Commission meeting is 17 July at 10 am.  Meetings are held on the 7th floor of the Madison County Courthouse, 100 Northside Square.

Several Madison City Councilmen have discussed looking into what - if any - options the city has. This includes asking the Madison County Commission to provide actual expenditures for what the service costs to ensure the city of Madison is not carrying the brunt of the cost.  In other words - what does it cost to serve 100 homes in Madison vs. what it cost to serve 100 homes in a more rural setting?  I think we know the answer - dollar for dollar it will cost more for the rural homes to be serviced than for the city.  How much more it cost, and should we lobby the Commission to reduce Madison resident's fee based on actual expenditures are the questions. 

Last thing - and I'm paraphrasing here - the Madison County Commission has stated that they would have better served the residents of Madison County through raising garbage collection rates a little each year over the past several years rather than having to resort to cutting service. While cutting service is not a desired outcome - I believe the alternatives of Madison establishing it's own garbage collection service or the County Sanitation Dept running their equipment into the ground are lesser options.  In other words - the County Commission did what they had to do in order to continue servicing the residents of Madison County.
 
Council & School Board Work Session - The City Council and Board of Education will hold a work session (open to the public) at 6:30 PM on Monday, 6 July at the Central Office located at 211 Celtic Drive. The purpose of this session is to discuss the Blue Ribbon Committee Report. This report was presented to the Board of Education on 11 June and recommended four possible solutions to address the growth in our school system at the high school and two middle schools. The principle solution is to propose a property tax increase in order to fund a new high school.  A copy of the report can be read here in MS Word format. (UPDATED 6/3) - A proposed property tax increase would require a majority vote of registered voters in Madison city.

Bob Jones High School - In case you haven't heard; BJHS once again made the Newsweek Top 1500 U.S. High School list. This is the third year in a row that BJHS has made the list. Of note, only 9 Alabama Schools (Public and Private) made the list, only two of which are in the North Alabama area.  View the Newsweek report.

I-565 & County Line Rd Interchange Meeting -  A public meeting with ALDOT (Alabama Dept of Transportation) is scheduled for 9 July from 5 - 7 PM at Heritage Elementary School to discuss this interchange.  This is an open meeting and I encourage you to attend.  Construction is scheduled to begin this winter and should be complete summer 2012.  View the announcement here.

Fire Station #2 - The proposed Fire Station is on the agenda for the Adjustment and Appeals Board meeting scheduled for 6 August at 5:30 PM.  The meeting is at City Hall in Room 311-B (in the basement).  A community meeting was held on 9 June at Fire Station #1 to discuss and review plans for the relocation of Fire Station #2.  Station #2 is currently located further north on Hughes Rd, across from Discovery Middle School. Mold was discovered at the current station several months ago and the building was deemed uninhabitable - hence the trailer on the south side of the parking lot as living quarters for the firemen. The city is pursuing federal stimulus grant funding to build the new station.  Council approved the Mayor to purchase the two lots on the corner of Hughes Road and Thomas Street as a possible site for the new location of Fire Station #2.

Police Chief - The city hired a new Police Chief in June.  I look forward to working with Chief Larry Muncey.  

HEMSI Madison Station - On 1 July HEMSI broke ground on their new ambulance station located adjacent to the area where the Madison Hospital will be built.  This station will house one full time (24/7) ambulance and crew and one part-time ambulance and crew to assist with calls during peak times.  The station will have the capacity to grow to three full time ambulances and crews.


June 2009

Fire Station #2 - A community meeting has been scheduled for 5:30 PM on 9 June at Fire Station #1 (adjacent to City Hall) to discuss and review plans for the relocation of Fire Station #2.  As background, Council recently approved the Mayor to purchase the two lots on the corner of Hughes Road and Thomas Street as a possible site for the new location of Fire Station #2.  Station #2 is currently located further north on Hughes Rd, across from Discovery Middle School.  Mold was discovered at the current station several months ago and the building was deemed uninhabitable - hence the trailer on the south side of the parking lot as living quarters for the firemen.  The city is pursuing federal stimulus grant funding to build the new station. 

Madison Fire Dept "Safe Living Guide" - The Madison Fire Dept has developed an excellent magazine for residents.  11,000 of which have been printed and plans call for one to be distributed to each household in Madison.  The magazine focuses on preventive measures that residents can take around their home for safe living.  I found the magazine to be very insightful.  The magazines should be delivered over the coming weeks by our fireman so don't be alarmed when you see them in your neighborhood!

Road Work & Bridges - Council approved awarding the Eastview Extension project at just over $1.1 million.  The project will connect Eastview to Wall Triana at the Reserve at Bridgefield Subdivision.  The project includes a traffic light and turn lanes at Wall Triana.  A pedestrian underpass will be built where Eastview crosses the Bob Jones campus.  The underpass will be complete prior to school starting in August.  The entire project should be complete in approx. 9 months.  Completion of the Gillespie Rd extension has been delayed by all the rain but should move quickly now that it is drying out ; the remaining work is weather sensitive.  The two bridges over Mill Creek, one on Mill Road and one on the Balch Road extension are entering the preconstruction phase.  Of note - once work is started Mill Rd will be closed for 20 ~ 30 days so plan now for an alternative route.  Please be patient while road work is underway.  The City Engineer is doing his best to keep traffic flowing while we improve the roads/bridges of our city - no small task! 

Blue Ribbon Committee Update - The Blue Ribbon Committee has completed their work and will meet in early June to finalize their report.  The report will be presented to the Superintendent of Madison City Schools and he plans to present the results to the School Board at a public meeting in late June. 

Police Chief - Five finalists for the Police Chief were interviewed by Council members in a public forum on 13 and 14 May at City Hall. In short, the caliber of the candidates interviewed made this a very difficult task.  The fact that we had over 30 applicants interested in the position says a lot about our city.  An announcement of who was selected should be made in early June.   

School Board -  Six finalists for the School Board position were interviewed in a public forum on 21 May at City Hall.  Similar to the Police Chief interviews - the diverse background of each candidate for this position made selection very difficult.  Again, this is a testament to the quality people willing to serve our community.  Ms. Connie Spears was selected by Council to serve the five year term on the School Board.

MPD Arrest and Incident Reports - The Madison Police Dept has made their Arrest and Incident Reports available on line for residents to view.  These reports are available here.  This can be helpful to alert residents of activity in and around their neighborhoods; hopefully making residents more aware and proactive in preventing incidents from occurring by keeping lights on at night, removing valuables from cars, keeping cars locked and keeping garage doors closed. Residents should call the MPD non-emergency number:722-7190 should they see any activity in their neighborhood that they question. 

City/HOA Partnership - A unique agreement has been developed with the Edgewater Homeowner Association and the City to remove some trees and repair some sidewalks in that community.  Costs of the project will be shared: approx. 30% city and 70% the HOA.  This is a great example of the community identifying a problem and committing funding to help defray cost.  A copy of the entire agreement is available here.  I will support neighborhoods in District 7 - whether an HOA or not - explore this as an option to improve or repair similar problems.

Madison Hospital -  It's official: Huntsville Hospital's new hospital that will be built in Madison will be named Madison Hospital (take a moment and let that sink in...) the $70 million dollar hospital will have 60 beds and employ about 500 people once finished.  Construction is planned to start this summer and the project is scheduled to be complete in 2012.  Additionally, the intersection of Balch Rd and Hwy 72 is scheduled to be widened.  This intersection is jointly controlled by the State DOT and Huntsville (little known fact: the northern section of Balch Rd - from Gooch to Hwy 72 -  is in the Huntsville City limits). 

Garbage Rate Change - You may have read/heard that the County is considering raising the monthly rate and/or reducing the number of days for collection in order to offset rising costs for this service.  The City Council is collecting information to best understand how this will impact the residents of Madison and determine what, if any options we may have.  I'll report back as more information becomes available.

May 2009

Swine Flu - The recent outbreak of the H1N1 - Swine Flu virus in Madison County is of great concern.  Rather then repeating information that is readily available via official and media outlets, I ask that residents continue to refer to the Madison City, Madison County EMA and Madison City Schools website for the most up-to-date information.  I'd also like to state how impressed I am with the coordinated response from all levels on this threat.  We have a great team in place and coordination between Madison, Huntsville and Madison County Officials with the local and state officials as well as medical staff has been nothing short of spectacular. 

Speed Limit Changes - The speed limit changes discussed in past newsletters was passed at the Council meeting on 27 April.  The changes will become effective over the next two ~ three weeks.  In short, the changes become effective when the signs go up so don't anticipate!  Where possible, the city reused existing signs but took this as an opportunity to upgrade older signs with reflective material making them easier to see.  The total material cost of changing signs is approximately $5,000.  We will make adjustments to speed limits as needed should a road/intersection be deemed unsafe because of these changes.  Please contact me (or your City Councilman if you live in another district) should you become aware of such a situation so that we can have the appropriate city department investigate. 

Wi-Fi Hotspots - Council approved a three year agreement with Traveller - a wireless communications company - 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, Traveller will provide public Wi-Fi hotspots at the parks and high-speed wireless broadband at City Hall, the Fire Stations and the Public Works Department.  The agreement also calls for Traveller to provide live coverage of City Council meetings on Knology Channel 42; coverage will be streamed on the City's new website as well.  Traveller will provide wireless internet services to local businesses for a fee; long term plans include potentially offering residential wireless broadband service in the city.  The agreement also provides for a traffic camera at Madison Boulevard and Wall Triana/Sullivan St which will feed live video to the city's website.  After testing, plans include incorporating the traffic cameras at other Madison intersections.  This service will be coming on line over the summer and should be fully operational in the next six months.

Fire Station #2 - Council approved the Mayor to purchase the two lots on the corner of Hughes Road and Thomas Street for the city.  This site may become the new location of Fire Station #2.  This station is currently located further north on Hughes Rd, across from Discovery Middle School.  Mold was discovered at the current station several months ago and the building was deemed uninhabitable - hence the trailer on the south side of the parking lot as living quarters for the firemen.  The city is pursuing federal stimulus grant funding to build the new station and needed land to be "shovel ready" should the grant be approved.  Consideration was given to rebuild on the existing site but was not considered feasible as the station would have to move to a temporary site while the new station was being built.  Meetings to involve nearby residents of the new location will be initiated as we move further down the road, obtaining the grant funding and designing the new station.

Madison Animal Shelter - The city operated animal shelter will be improved over the coming months as the current shelter is woefully inadequate.  Thanks to the Madison Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) for bringing this to the city's attention.  The Madison ARF is an all volunteer organization that has quickly organized to raise awareness with the pet population in Madison.  More information about the ARF and how citizens can contribute can be found at their website.

Citizen Advisory Committees - Several advisory committees have recently been formed by the Mayor's office to provide input on areas of concern: a subdivision sign committee to review, among other things, responsibility for upkeep/maintenance of subdivision entrance signs and how responsibility passes from developer to residents.  A street light committee to review and document ongoing needs to improve street lighting throughout the city.  A cemetery committee to help document existing cemeteries on land that has recently been annexed into the city.  These committees have formed or are being formed.  If you would like to serve on a committee please contact the Mayor's Office.  Please note, these are ad hoc committees and not board appointment.  If you would like to serve on a board you will need to submit an application to the city for consideration to serve in that capacity.

Road Work - Progress is being made on all fronts with road projects and improvements in the city.  The good news is that the projects should be complete over the summer - before school starts back in August!

Blue Ribbon Committee Update - Progress with the Blue Ribbon Committee splinter groups has been somewhat delayed by personal commitments.  The groups continue to wrap up their individual reviews and the overall committee will reform to compile a report to be presented to the Superintendent of Madison City Schools.  He plans to present the results to the School Board at a public meeting in late May. 

Police Chief & School Board - Finalist for the Police Chief will be interviewed by Council members in a public forum.  These interviews have been tentatively scheduled for 13 and 14 May in the afternoon at City Hall.  Specific times will be published by the city later next week.  Based on Alabama State Law, the interviews are open to the public but obviously the public will not be able to ask questions or have any input during the interview.  Everyone must be seated before the interview starts and cannot leave the room until the interview is complete. The School Board interviews will  follow in similar fashion.  Council has selected five finalists for this position from the board applications that were accepted through the end of March. 

Council Work Sessions - Council is holding a work session to review the financial position of the city as we move into the second half of the budget year.  The meeting is on 7 May at 6 PM at the City Hall and is open to the public.  I will provide an update to this newsletter after that meeting.  Council also agreed to and is planning a work session in the coming weeks to review where the city is at with respect to multi-family developments.  We will review what projects have been approved but not yet started as well as what developments have been started and any planned developments that have yet to enter the Planning and Zoning stages.  The intent is to be proactive with future development and overall planning of the city.  We realize that we need to ensure development continues in both commercial and residential sectors but development should be controlled to allow infrastructure to keep pace.  Other concerns include the overall impact on city resources from multi-family developments such as school capacity and fire/police support.

Beautification & Tree Board - The Madison Beautification & Tree Board is hosting a "Clean The Green" on Saturday May 9th from 8 - 2 at Dublin Park.  Clean the Green is a "Green" festival promoting community education and litter prevention for the City of Madison and surrounding areas. 

Tree Trimming - As discussed in past newsletters, Huntsville Utilities has started tree trimming in the Madison area.  It has been five years since trees were trimmed in the city.  A neighborhood meeting was held in April to help explain the process to affected citizens.  Huntsville Utilities will continue the survey of neighborhoods throughout Madison looking for trees that have grown to interfere with power lines.  Trees that need to be trimmed are marked and the resident will receive information concerning the planned action.  Some trees may need to be removed; again, residents will be notified.  Every effort will be made to preserve trees and Madison's Beautification and Tree Board is actively engaged with Huntsville Utilities to ensure trees are properly trimmed.  Vouchers were given to residents for stump grinding of trees that needed to be removed as well as vouchers to purchase acceptable replacement trees and advise on how/where to plant them to prevent future interference with power lines.  Please follow the directions provided should you receive information from Huntsville Utilities.

April 2009

School Rezoning - The Madison City School Board of Education voted to approve new elementary school zone lines in advance of Mill Creek Elementary School opening this fall.  After several public meetings attended by hundreds of residents, the Madison Board of Education came to a decision at their public meeting on 1 April.  The Board approved the Superintendent's revised rezoning plan. This plan incorporates a few minor changes to the proposed rezoning presented on 24 March.  I commend the many residents who attended the meetings and for understanding the board's tough decision. I also commend the School Board and the School Superintendent for their willingness to listen.  If your children have been rezoned to another school, I recommend you contact that school and arrange for a tour of the facility over the coming weeks.  The school system is establishing a "Redistricting Team" to help facilitate the transition. Please look for information from your child's current school.  The new school zone map is available to view on the school's website.  The rezoning only affects the elementary schools - NOT the middle schools.  

School Board Opening - Applications were accepted through the end of March for a position opening on the Madison City School Board.  The Council will now begin the process of reviewing the applications and interviewing applicants in a public forum.  The position should be filled in May and is a five year term. Terms on the school board expire on a staggered basis. 

Speed Limit Survey - The speed limit survey discussed in February's newsletter will come before Council for a vote in April.  Council held a public hearing/work session on the recommended speed limit changes throughout the city after the 23 March Council meeting - five residents attended this work session.  Council also received several emails concerning the proposed changes - both pro & con.  

Blue Ribbon Committee Update - The Blue Ribbon Committee did not meet as a group in March.  The splinter groups continue to wrap up their individual reviews and the overall committee will reform to compile a report to be presented to the Superintendent of Madison City Schools.  He plans to present the results to the School Board at a public meeting sometime in April or May.

Indian Creek Greenway/Creekwood Park -  Faye Dyer, Madison County Commissioner District 2, announced a collaborative effort between Huntsville City, the City of Madison and Madison County District 2, to build a park located on the north edge of the Indian Creek Greenway where the cities of Madison and Huntsville boarder. This park will serve over 33,000 households within a three mile radius.  Plans for the park include covered pavilions, playgrounds, parking and a dog park.  Council is still planning to build a dog park within the city of Madison and continues to review possible locations.
  
Tree Trimming - Huntsville Utilities started the survey of neighborhoods throughout Madison looking for trees that have grown to interfere with power lines.  The survey will take about two months to complete.  Trees that need to be trimmed will be marked and the resident will receive information concerning the planned action.  Some trees may need to be removed; again, residents will be notified.  Every effort will be made to preserve trees and Madison's Beautification and Tree Board is actively engaged with Huntsville Utilities to ensure trees are properly trimmed.  Additionally, a neighborhood "Town Hall" meeting is scheduled for 23 April from 6 to 7 PM at the Madison Elementary School Gym. Officials from Huntsville Utilities will be present to answer any questions and to advise residents of the required trimmings. I will not be able to attend the meeting as this is the date of our Council meeting. 

Palmer Road/County Line Road Traffic Light - Just in time for baseball/softball season - the traffic light at the Palmer & County Line Road intersection is complete.  Please be aware of changes to traffic patterns at this busy intersection.  

Madison Historic Preservation Committee - This committee was created by the previous council to replace the Historic District Committee; changes in Alabama State Law with regards to Historic Preservation made this committee obsolete.  The new committee is working on a plan to potentially expand the existing Historical District boundary.  I attended the public hearing held in March where citizens voiced their opinion on the proposal.  The proposed boundary changes require Council approval and should come up for a vote in the coming weeks.   My hope is that this committee will continue to work alongside the homeowners and business owners to preserve the look and feel of our unique downtown historic area.

Police Chief, Public Works Director and Retail Recruiter positions - Interviews for these positions are ongoing.  The Mayor, with assistance from the Human Resources Director and other department heads, has conducted initial interviews.  The Mayor will make recommendations to Council for the Public Works Director and Retail Recruiter positions.  Several finalists for the Police Chief will be interviewed by Council members in a public forum.  The public can attend the meetings but will not participate in the interviews.  I will post the dates of these meetings when they are scheduled. 

Beautification & Tree Board - The Madison Beautification & Tree Board is hosting their second annual sale of Madison's signature plant; The Knock Out Rose.  This sale will be held on Saturday, 18 April at Dr. Hatcher's Office on Hughes Road from 8 to 12.  The roses cost $15 each and all proceeds go to support programs for the Beautification & Tree Board.

March 2009

27 March - The next BOE meeting will be at 5 PM on 1 April 2009 at the Central Office.  An agenda has not been published but the school rezoning will likely go to a vote at this meeting. 

24 March - Update to School Rezoning - A revised, proposed school rezoning district map has been posted on the Madison City Schools website.  The new map is posted here and a street listing is posted here.  These maps were made public for the first time on Monday, 23 March. 

The revised map largely affects Silver Creek, Sagefield and Brass Oak subdivisions from District 7.  Previously, Ashley Green, Kensington Estates, Sagefield and Brass Oak was proposed to be rezoned. 

I encourage everyone to make it a priority to attend tonight's  (3/24/09) BOE meeting at Central Office at 5 PM.  This meeting is an overview of the revised, proposed changes and Dr Fowler, the school superintendent will provide detailed information on the revised plan.  I will attend the meeting. 

School Rezoning - In advance of  Mill Creek Elementary School opening this fall, the Madison Board of Education will announce their rezoning plan at the 5 March 2009 School Board Meeting to be held at the Central Office.  A public hearing for residents to voice their concerns and provide recommendations will be held on 12 March 2009 at Bob Jones High School Auditorium.  The planned rezoning will be posted on the Madison City School website in the coming days.  The current school zone map is available here.  The rezoning will only affect the elementary schools.

School Board Opening - Applications are being accepted for a position on the Madison City School Board.  Terms on the school board expire on a staggered basis.  Applications will be accepted through the end of March.  The position will be filled in May and is a five year term.

Speed Limit Survey - The speed limit survey discussed in February's newsletter is now published on the City's website.  Council will hold a work session on recommended speed limit changes throughout the city following the 23 March Council meeting.  This will be an opportunity for the public to voice their support and/or concern prior to Council voting on the changes.

Blue Ribbon Committee Update - The committee broke into splinter groups last month to review specific areas of the Madison School system.  These groups are wrapping up their individual reviews and the committee will now reform to compile a report to be presented to Dr. Fowler, Superintendent of Madison City Schools .  He will present the results to the School Board at a public meeting sometime in April.

I'd like to know your thoughts on two things with regards to the high school: 1) do we need a new high school and, 2) how would you recommend a new high school be paid for?  For the record, Bob Jones High School has approximately 2,000 students (10th - 12th grade) on campus daily.  The school is literally busting at the seams.  Options to fund a new high school include a city sales tax increase or a property tax increase.  Please email me your thoughts and recommendations on this subject.  I will share more information after the Blue Ribbon Committee wraps up their work.

Three Big Projects - Recapping the three projects announced last month that will benefit our city:  Gov Riley announced the I-565/County Line Rd interchange and Old Madison Pike, Indian Creek Bridge widening.  The third project is a 60 bed hospital to be built in Madison by Huntsville Hospital.  Several members of Council met with Huntsville Hospital's CEO last week - everything is moving in the right direction and they are eager to get started with ground breaking.  All three projects should be completed by mid-2012.  Look for other road improvement projects to be announced in the coming weeks funded via the federal stimulus package.

Public Feedback & Voting - Last month I asked for feedback from residents on the proposed rezoning of property at the intersection of Browns Ferry and Limestone County Road.  This property was zoned commercial and the developer requesting a re-zoning to allow approximately 12 of the 24 acres to be zoned multi-family, i.e. apartments.  The re-zoning passed at the 9 February Council meeting.  The development will be called Madison Crossing and will include both commercial and multi-family "high end" apartments which will resemble townhomes.  I received considerable feedback from residents via my request - 99% of which did not support the rezoning.  I voted the way the public requested and did not support the rezoning. 

I may not always be able to vote this way - often I become aware of late breaking information, generally not available to the public which can influence my vote.  But I can assure you, public input is very important to me and, as stated on the home page of this site - "I realize that my vote, a singular vote is in fact the voice of many".  Thanks to all that took the time to let me know their opinion.
February 2009

 A lot of things going on - I'll be brief but try to cover everything...

Madison Hospital  - Crestwood Hospital announced on 30 January that they would not file another appeal on the recent Certificate of Need decision, clearing the way for Huntsville Hospital to build Madison's Hospital.  Huntsville Hospital's CEO, David Spillers is scheduled to provide an update and overview of the plan to build the hospital at the 9 February City Council Meeting (NOTE: this has been rescheduled to a press conference on 2/17/09).  The meeting starts at 6 PM at City Hall and is open to the public.

Public Hearing on Brown's Ferry Development - Another topic for the 9 February Council Meeting is the planned rezoning of property on the south-west corner of County Line Road and Brown's Ferry Road.  This property is currently zoned commercial and the developer is requesting a re-zoning to allow a majority of the property to be zoned multi-family, i.e. apartments.  Should the re-zoning pass, the development will be called Madison Crossing and, according to the developer, will include both commercial (banks, restaurant, drug store) and multi-family "high end" apartments.  There are several other requests to Council in the pipeline for rezoning to multi-family from commercial or single family.  I am concerned with the number of apartments that could be built in Madison and would like to hear your thoughts - email me here. 

Home/Auto Break-ins - Since November we have experienced a rash of break-ins of homes and cars.  Madison PD recently arrested two suspects with ties to gang activity in Morgan County.  The gang operates in Madison because we are viewed as an affluent community and somewhat of an easy target.  Council has asked the police dept to increase neighborhood patrols both day and night but residents can help too!  Some simple steps you can take - keep items like a GPS, laptop, purse out of plain view or better yet, take them out of your car all together.  Keep your garage door closed even if you are home and keep outside lights on.  Keep watch on your neighborhood and call the police if you see activity that is suspect. 

Tree Trimming - Huntsville Utilities will start a survey of neighborhoods throughout Madison looking for trees that have grown to interfere with power lines.  Trees that need to be trimmed will be marked and the resident will receive information concerning the planned action.  Some trees may need to be removed, again, residents will be notified.  Every effort will be made to preserve trees and Madison's Beautification and Tree Board is actively engaged with Huntsville Utilities to ensure trees are properly trimmed.  Additionally, a neighborhood "Town Hall" meeting is planned to advise residents of the required trimmings. I'll provide more information as it becomes available. 

Speed Limits - I am participating in a committee that will recommend adjusting speed limits on various roads in Madison. The committee includes members of council, the mayor's office, police dept, city engineer and Madison residents. The recommendations we are reviewing are based on speed surveys that have been completed over the past year.  In short, the survey numbers record the average speed of vehicles traveling during a period when traffic is flowing - i.e., not during rush hour!  The general rule of thumb is that speed limits should be set based on 85% of the speed recorded in the survey.  The theory is that driver's set the speed limit based on how comfortable they feel when driving under normal conditions.  We are looking at these numbers and applying a dose of common sense, factoring in things such as the terrain (down hill runs), general condition of the road surface and number of drive-ways/entry-ways along the road.  Additionally, the police dept is providing data on accident rates in high traffic areas.  Our plan is to take this in bite sized chunks, recommending to Council changes on a few roads at a time.  Several of our roads are shared with Huntsville and Limestone County so we are working with their leadership as we move forward to make sure we are all on the same sheet of music to prevent sudden, unrealistic changes in speeds that might be hazardous or resemble a "speed trap".
  
Mill Road Paving - good news here, work will start on the Mill Road improvement/re-paving in the coming days.  The contractor has 90 days to complete the work.  The road will be repaved from County Line Road to Hughes Road and should be complete by May 2009.
 
Palmer Road Traffic Light - more good news - just in time for baseball/softball season - work will start to install a light at the Palmer Road/County Line Road intersection.  The contractor has 90 days to complete the work.  This was awarded back in December so the work should be complete by March 2009.

Blue Ribbon Committee - you may not have heard of this committee - it is a group of Madison business, community and elected leaders, formed by Dr. Fowler, Superintendent of Madison City Schools to review the current state of Madison City Schools in terms of budgets, buildings, programs, etc.  The committee is not just looking at "how to fund a new high school" but rather "do we need a new high school".  We will look at ways to fund a new high school if that proves to be the case through options such as the federal stimulus package, a sales tax increase, property tax increase and possible, other non-tax alternatives such as is an extended day or year-round schools to reduce overcrowding at Bob Jones.  The committee has met several times as a group and recently broke into splinter groups to focus on specific areas.  I am working with the finance group, drilling down on expenditures and funding from all areas; federal, state and local.  The group is not operating under a timeline but I anticipate we will be able to compile a report in the next three months or so. 

Cable TV - Last month I stated that I would research information on cable TV providers in Madison.  Several people have contacted Council members concerning Knology's increase in fees, poor service and slow internet service.  As for fees, my bill did not go up (no, it's not because I'm a councilman!) but I only have the basic service, not digital or HD.  My neighbors who have digital or HD saw a significant increase in their bill - so much that they are now satellite users.  In my research I found out a few things: 1) according to the city attorney, no exclusivity agreements exist preventing another provider from entering the Madison market. 2) I contacted ComCast corporate Headquarters to ask if they planned to provide cable service in Madison in the future; they responded with a nice email stating that they would consider my inquiry as a request for service...that's it, nothing else.  3) A representative from AT&T recently talked with the city about entering the market as a provider.  I don't have any other details yet but suspect the current economic climate would limit any new infrastructure work.  

Dog Park - Last year the Council began discussions on creating a Dog Park similar to the one in Huntsville.  In fact, I've been contacted by a resident of District 7 who frequents the park in Huntsville and told me he has run into several Madison residents while at the park.  I asked for an update on this project and was told that we are looking for suitable areas to place the park and Legal is working on regulations to ensure we protect everyone's interest.  I'll keep an eye on this as well and provide updates, as they become available.

Madison Family of The Year - It is that time of year, time to submit your recommendations for the Madison Family of the Year.  Visit the City Website to learn more and to obtain an application to submit a deserving family you know.
January 2009

I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and Happy New Year - I think we'll all agree that 2009 will prove to be a challenging but exciting year!

January starts my third month as Councilman for District #7.  Following are some highlights of council activities.  Note that you can access the minutes from previous meetings and agendas for upcoming meetings at this link.

Highlights of the December 8th regular council meeting include:

Madison County Commissioner Faye Dyer donated a 2005 van, valued at approx $20K, to the Madison Senior Center. 

Council approved the Mayor's request to create a "Special Needs Board" to advise the city on how we can best support and enhance the quality of life of special needs residents and their caregivers in the city.  Please contact me if you are interested in serving on this or other boards.  Board vacancies and the application form can be viewed here.

Council approved a rezoning of property located east of County Line Rd and south of Browns Ferry Rd from Agriculture to Mixed Use.  This location is caddy-corner from The Village Shoppes of Madison - anchored by the new Publix.  The Bradford Rehabilitation Center is currently located on part of this property; the center is moving to a new location and the property will be developed into a mixed use location with stores, offices, apartments and a hotel.  The development is called "Madison Lakes" and will include 290 apartments with a clubhouse, retail space along County Line Rd, a 180 room hotel and approx 16 acres the developer has set aside for open space that will tie into the Bradford Creek Greenway.  The hotel will have inside corridors and a height restriction of not more than 75 feet.  Several traffic improvements including a right hand turn lane will be added to the east side of County Line Rd.

Council held a work session on December 10th to discuss the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) for the 2009 budget.  All work sessions are open to the public and while they can be somewhat drawn out (this one lasted 4 hours) I'd encourage anyone with interest to attend.  The CIP includes completion of several projects as well as starting some new ones that include a new fire station and addition to the police annex.  The entire $9.3M CIP budget can be viewed here. I will continue to update this in the coming months.

At the 22 December regular council meeting, council passed the 2009 city budget.  Highlights of the $29.6M budget include a 2% Cost of Living Allowance for city employees.  A copy of the Ordinance can be viewed here.

Council also made appointments to the newly created Madison Station Historic Preservation Committee.  This committee was created by the previous council to replace the Historic District Committee; changes in Alabama State Law with regards to Historic Preservation made this committee obsolete.  Our hope is the new committee will work alongside the homeowners and business owners to preserve the look and feel of our unique downtown historic area.

Council also voted to re-appoint the City Clerk and Fire Chief.  The Police Chief submitted his resignation, effective February 2009.  The Assistant Chief, Major Weaver, accepted the request of Council to fill the Police Chef's position while the city searches for a new chief. 

The city is also seeking applications for a new Public Works Director after the retirement of the previous director.  A Retail Recruiter position; a newly created position in the city is also being filled.  This position will not be a city employee but rather a consultant who will report to the mayor with the specific goal of bringing new retail opportunities to the city of Madison.

In other notes, I'm working a no-parking zone ordinance that will alleviate the parking problems on Hartington Dr, across from Discovery Middle School.  The Home Owners  Association did a fabulous job of developing and documenting a need for this ordinance and I commend them for helping me, help them!  Additionally, in response to a citizen's request, we placed a "no outlet" sign at the entrance to a long cul-de-sac; reducing both driver frustration and unwanted traffic in a neighborhood.  I truly enjoy working items such as these - in the grand scheme of things, they are small accomplishments but to the residents impacted they improve the quality of life and therefore are very rewarding.

One more thing; I've received a few emails concerning increased cable TV rates and the lack of service and competition with the current provider in Madison.  During January I plan to review what agreements exist between providers and the city to better understand what leeway the city has to ensure residents receive the best service for their dollars...I'll report back on what I discover next month.  Until then, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or concerns with our city. 

A reminder; I make it a point to arrive at City Hall for every Council meeting (2nd and 4th Mondays of each month) at 5 PM; one hour before the 6 PM meeting to meet with residents of District 7 who wish to discuss any topic.
December 2008

First and foremost, from my family to yours, Merry Christmas and a Safe & Happy New Year!

This is my first month in office and it has been a busy month.  I'll outline some of the items your City Council has been working on and provide updates to a few of the items I've placed on the News Page.

Budget - The biggest item we've been working on is the 2009 City Budget.  On November 15th the Council and Mayor spent 10 hours (yes...10) together in a conference room discussing the budget with each department head.  It was a long day, but in the end we grew as a team and it was time well spent. 

As background, in August 2008, the past Mayor and Council passed a continuing resolution, allowing the 2008 budget to carry forward.  This action allowed the current Mayor and Council to review and make changes to the budget they will be working with. 

The Mayor plans to present the budget to the council in December where it will be put to a vote for approval.

Board Openings - There are several openings on various boards supporting the city.  Residents interested in serving on a board can view openings and learn more about the application process by visiting the city web page on boards, linked here.  The information on the city web page was updated on 17 November 2008.  Please contact me should you have any questions.

Noise Ordinance - Another issue we worked on is an amendment to The City's Noise Ordinance.  This ordinance change came about due to after hour's work, such as street sweepers and lawn maintenance, as well as delivery trucks around the new Publix's Shopping Center on County Line Road. 

Chemical Site - In November, the city was made aware of a chemical site that was unearthed by a developer on the NE corner of Palmer Road and County Line Road.  The State and Federal EPA are working to get the site cleaned up and testing is being conducted to ensure chemicals have not contaminated the ground water.  As of this writing the site has been contained and the clean up efforts are ongoing.  The chemicals were from an old crop-dusting site that occupied the corner not so long ago--I've only lived here 9 years and recall the airstrip when it was operational. 

Winter Prepardness - I felt the following article, provided by David Glassman, the Emergency Operations Safety Manager of the Madison Fire Dept to be very timely and wanted to share it with our residents:   

The National Weather Service offices in Alabama and Tennessee, including NWS Huntsville, conducted Winter Weather Awareness Week from November 17, through November 19, 2008. The purpose was to call attention to the winter weather that we experience across northern Alabama and southern middle Tennessee. Yes we can and do get winter weather! The past few years the winters have been relatively mild and no real significant ice or snow events. You are encouraged to make plans this week in the event a significant winter storm strikes our area this winter.

Make sure you and your family has winter survival supplies on hand. During winter weather events the main problems are power outages which mean no heat. Make sure you have plenty of blankets and warm clothing on hand for your family and an alternate form of heat. Kerosene heaters are great, but also dangerous if not used correctly. Keep alternate heaters away from furniture and curtains. Never leave a kerosene heater unattended! Many fires are started by a second source of heating in homes during cold winter months. Make sure you have plenty of non-perishable food items on hand, flash lights, a battery powered radio/TV to hear weather updates and other public information, a gallon of water per person per day for at least 72 hours if not longer. Make sure all your smoke detectors are working correctly! The links below will give you more information. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Madison Fire Department at 772-3326 (non-emergency).