MARS bus, lamp replacements highlight March 25 city council meeting

By Aldo Amato

Staff Reporter

MADISON— The Madison City Council approved a number of measures at the March 25 meeting including a resolution approving a grant submission for funding of a news Madison Assisted Ride System (MARS) bus and a discussion about replacing vital parts of the historic district.

After a number of proclamations by Mayor Troy Trulock including those for American Red Cross Month, Donate Life Month and Sarcoidosis Month, the city council discussed a number of resolutions.

Resolution No. 2013-78-R was approved that authorized the submission of a grant application for funding in the amount of $50,000 for purchase of MARS van/bus. Parks and Recreation Director Kory Alfred said that the bus will be a vital piece to people on the route who suffer from some type of disability and the new bus will be specially equipped with a wheelchair ramp and other modifications to fit the needs of the Madison community.

Towards the end of the meeting, Amy Bell with the Planning Department presented plans on replacing the gas lamps in the historic district downtown on Front and Church streets.

“They will be replaced over time,” Bell said. “Two new lamps will be going in the short term and they will match Main St. along with the gas ones on Front and Church.”

Councilman DJ Klein said that the lamp replacement is part of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

“Phase II will include the new lights,” Klein said. “Eventually we are going to replace all the lights that we have other than the two we plan to replace already.”

Bell said that she did not know the timetable of when the new lamps will be installed.