Ondocsin named to City Council

The Madison City Council will have a gender shift in 2011, as Ronica Ondocsin was named as the new District 7 representative during Monday night’s meeting.

Ondocsin replaces Bill Holtzclaw, who resigned last month to take on his new position as the State Senate District 2 representative.

“I’m very excited, I’m honored and I’m ready to get started.

Ondocsin was one of four candidates that were interviewed for the position after the council received 10 initial applications.

“We’re very blessed to have four wonderful finalists,” Council President Tommy Overcash said.

Council member Larry Vannoy nominated Ondocsin for the seat, and the vote was unanimous at 6-0.

Ondocsin, who holds an engineering degree and has been active on the city’s Historic Preservation Society, will be the second woman to hold a council seat.

In addition to being a representative for District 7, Ondocsin said she will represent all women across the city.

“There are tons of women here in Madison, and I think it’s great to be a representative for them,” Ondocsin said. “A female perspective is a little different.”

But while Ondocsin said it will take her some time to get up to speed on the day-to-day workings of the council, she plans to hit the ground running on issues such as the budget, committee nominations and road improvements at Gooch and Hughes roads.

Ondocsin will be sworn in at the beginning of the regularly scheduled Jan. 10 meeting.

In other actions:

—Police Chief Larry Muncey presented Nuntry Fletcher with an award for remarkable community service. Fletcher performed CPR on a man in distress three months ago after discovering the man unresponsive near his vehicle in a parking lot. The award Muncey presented Fletcher is an award given to officers for outstanding community service efforts.

“You, sir, have earned it just as much as any man I have ever met,” Muncey said.

—Cliff Lanham and Troy Trulock were named to the Parks and Recreation Department Place 1 and 2 seats, respectively.

—Frederick Davey and Mary Hudson were named to the Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals Place 4 and 5 seats, respectively.

—Approved a resolution for $90,000 to replace the gym floor at the Dublin Park gymnasium. The floor was damaged beyond repair on Nov. 27, as flooding rains sent inches of water into the facility. An insurance claim was recently denied for the damage, so the council approved the funds from the general fund account.

City Attorney Kelly Butler said although the initial insurance claim was denied, the city will continue to pursue the claim.

“We haven’t given up on the insurance company yet,” Butler said.