City Council listens to veterans, homeowners
Madison City Council appropriated $10,000 to help fund a new veterans monument in Jessie Ollie Wikle Jr. Veterans Memorial Park. CONTRIBUTED
MADISON – Madison City Council listened to a variety of concerns from veterans, swim families and property owners at its meeting on July 25.
Carlos Woods and James Vance with American Legion Post 229 in Madison requested funding to rebuild the Wall of Heroes Monument in Jessie Ollie Wikle Jr. Veterans Memorial Park on Front Street in downtown Madison.
The existing monument has fallen in disrepair, Vance said.
Council’s consensus was to allot $10,000 from FY16 budget for the project. To raise funds, legionnaires will sell etched pavers and bricks and black granite benches. American Legion plans to use Clark Memorial to construct the monument.
Henrietta King discussed activities of Madison Dolphins Swim and Dive Team. Council approved the facilities use agreement with the organization.
In public comments, BeBe Oetjen addressed council regarding the $23 million project for Madison Recreation Campus, which she called “Recreation Pork Campus.”
Madison Fieldhouse LLC, the proposed operating agent, was first mentioned at the Aug. 25, 2014 meeting and was added to existing agenda, Oetjen said. “In two years, nothing was happened,” she said.
Oetjen stressed the importance of communication between council and mayor, as well as communication with Madison citizens. “Is this (a council meeting) where citizens can come to get an answer (to questions)? Oetjen said.
Larger payments that council approved included these items:
* LIttlejohn, $29,614.51, construction engineering and inspections for County Line Road, Phase II.
* Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), $476,000, city’s share of funds for preliminary engineering costs on U.S. 72.
Athens Utilities will bill for garbage and trash billing and fee collection services for Madison residents within Limestone County.
Mayor Troy Trulock said the new Kroger supermarket at 4579 Wall Triana will open within about 60 days. Kroger will conduct two job fairs for management and associate employees.
City Clerk-Treasurer Melanie Willard received approval for appointing election officials for the municipal election on Aug. 23 and a run-off election, if required, on Oct. 4.
After agenda items were covered, council dismissed into executive session for an employee hearing that involved confidential information for multiple individuals.
