New Year's greetings

By Staff
Mayor Jan Wells
City of Madison
As always, the new year brings with it the opportunity for new beginnings and a chance for new perspectives.
2002 was a good year for Madison. Road and sidewalk infrastructure projects were moved nearer to completion. Internal processes within city hall were fine-tuned and policies clarified. Capital Improvement Projects III was funded and projects started.
Residential development continued at a steady pace. A lot of ribbons were cut as new businesses were welcomed and "now open" signs were posted. Youth sports programs continued to grow and the use of parks and recreation facilities increased.
All of these areas should stay strong in the coming year.
2003 will bring new challenges and opportunities as Madison continues to grow and prosper. Roads will remain at the top of our list, as we continue to seek funding based on current need and future growth. For the first time, we will have benefit of a professional lobbyist working on our behalf in both Montgomery and Washington.
Redistricting is a priority issue for the first quarter, as all seven Council districts are adjusted to conform to the new census data. Clearly defining and securing our corporate boundaries via judicious annexation will continue.
Future growth issues will be discussed and evaluated with input from government, education and utility entities, as well as the general public. Pursuit of an adjustment to the State Health Plan will remain a top priority until the issue of a hospital in Madison is resolved.
As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions as council and I continue to work these and other issues on a daily basis. Your participation on city boards and committees is encouraged. With your continued support, we will have a great New Year and prosperous future.