Mayor gives update on satellite license/tax office

Mayor Paul Finley gave an update on the new county satellite license and tax office during Monday’s City Council meeting, which was rescheduled from Jan. 10 due to the snowstorm.

The new satellite office, located in the former Oh! Bryan’s Family Steakhouse off Browns Ferry Road, will house the county license commissioner, tax collector and tax assessor, while also offering drivers’ license tests, automobile, hunting and fishing licenses, auto tag transfers, new resident vehicle registration and titles, and boat registration, in addition to taking care of tax requirements.

The office will act as the county’s second testing facility for drivers’ tests, in addition to the state trooper office on Church Street in Huntsville.

County License Commissioner Mark Craig originally said he hoped the office would open by late 2010, but Finley said the bidding process and renovations have slowed up the process.

“Bottom line is (Craig) sees that going to bid in the next month or so,” Finely said. “It’s on its way.”

In other council actions:

—Announced council member appointments as follows:

Tim Holcombe

-Madison Chamber of Commerce, liaison

-Madison Street Festival, liaison

-Madison City Schools Board, liaison

Steve Haraway

-Recreation Advisory Board, liaison

-Water and Wastewater Board, member

-Special Needs Advocacy Board, liaison

Jerry Jennings

-Senior Center Advisory Board, liaison

-Finance Subcommittee, member

-Industrial Development Board, liaison

Tim Cowles

-Planning and Zoning Board, member

-Finance Subcommittee, liaison

Greenways and Trails, liaison

Tommy Overcash

-North Alabama Gas Board, member

-Huntsville/Madison County Library Board, member

-Human Resources Subcommittee chair, member

Ronica Ondocsin

-Madison Station Historical Society Committee, liaison

-Human Resources Subcommittee chair, member

-Beautification and Tree Board, liaison

—Awarded a bid to Building Construction Associates Inc. in the amount of $115,400 for the construction of a new restroom and concession stand at Dublin Park.

—Finley reminded residents of a public hearing Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. to discuss the new Shoppes of Madison retail development.

“It gives the public the opportunity to ask questions they might have,” Finley said.

—District 1 representative Tim Holcombe addressed the status of proposed traffic improvements to the Penchant and Mill road intersection, in which City Engineer Gary Chynoweth said plans had been drawn up and passed on to the public works department.