City passes audit with flying colors

By Staff
Mitch Freeman Madison County Record
Charles Adams, CPA with MDA Professional Group, Inc., commended Madison's city government for ending its fiscal year with a positive number after a severe shortfall had been budgeted.
Adams said overall there was an excess of $180,000 in all of the funds, during his summary of the audit, which he presented to the city council on April 28.
Madison's 2002 fiscal year ended Oct. 31.
Adams went on to say that last year's revenues were flat year. Sales tax revenues were only about $32,000 more that the previous year. Expenditures were down more than $1,000,000 in the total primary government.
Adams also offered commendation to city finance director Lillie Causey.
"She does and outstanding job for you in that department," Adams said. She has won the certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting two times and we're quite confident that she can win it again this year. It is a very prestigious award."
The award is granted based in working within the high standards set forth by the Government Finance Officers Association.
In other city business:
* The council agreed to offer Andrea Garrett the position of aide to the city council to replace Charlotte Rumore. Rumore will be retiring at the end of May. Sources said that Garrett had verbally accepted the offer, which pays an annual salary of $35,000 to start. In making the nomination, council member Ray Stubblefield cited her experience and education as keys to selecting her from among 10 really good candidates.
* Councilman Larry Vannoy reported several cost saving ideas that came out of a meeting between he, city engineering personnel, and Johnson Controls. City facilities were studied looking for ways to cut operational costs. Vannoy advised that the city could take most of the actions without further assistance from Johnson Controls. He also stated that money should be budgeted next year to do things like purchase timers for off-hours control of water heating, air conditioning and heating systems.
* The council approved payment of $6,500 to Sani-Tech JetVac Service, LLC for Crunk Ditch culvert cleaning project.
* The council approved payment of $13,946.17 to G.W. Jones and Sons for engineering services related to County Line Road improvement.
* The council approved a $2,500 appropriation to the Madison Arts Council.
* Travel advances of $125 were authorized for two city employees attendance of Mental Health Crisis Intervention Training to be conducted in Montgomery.
* A new city job position was authorized for a pay grade nine building plan reviewer.
* In police department business, the council approved $734.50 received from the sale of seized and unclaimed property for use by the Explorer Post. A $30 monthly rental charge for additional storage space to store seized equipment was approved. The purchase of 125 police badges at a cost of approximately $6,000 was approved. The federal forfeiture account will fund this purchase.
* The council agreed to accept Shamrock II into the city maintenance program.
* Several rezoning requests were approved for public hearings scheduled for the June 9 city council meeting.
* A resolution was passed to allow the city of Madison to participate in the Citizens Corps Council of Madison County, in particular the Community Emergency Response Teams. The move is related to homeland security. A Madison representative is to be appointed by the council, perhaps Madison Fire Chief Ralph Cobb.
* The council approved the amended 2002 – 2003 city budget.
* Discussion continued in regard collection of costs to cut the grass on lots where no one lives. Officials are to investigate the cost recovery rate and possibility of placing a lien against offending property to increase the cost recovery rate. The discussion will carry forward to next council meeting.
* The council agreed to a city engineering department request of $2,300 to replace pump house siding at Dublin Park.
* Madison Mayor Jan Wells announced that a group of 1200 Goldwing motorcycle riders would like to bring their annual gathering to Madison next April.
* Florescent lights can be upgrade to new technology and traffic lights can be upgrade to LED technology to save electrical costs, he said.