Revenue exceeds estimates in FY 2016 budget

MADISON – Madison City Council has authorized the work of a community mental health officer within Madison Police Department.

Brian Davis with Wellstone Behavioral Health (which serves as Madison County’s mental health agency) thanked Madison Police Department for initiating use of a community mental health officer. Officer Tracy Thomas will be the city’s first officer to act in this capacity and interact with individuals with mental illness.

District 2 Councilman Steve Smith commented on Fiscal Year 2016 budget. Smith said expenses are under projection and revenue is above projection for an excess of $3 million over initial estimates.

In public comments, Ranae Bartlett, Executive Director of Madison City Chess League, thanked council, particularly District 7 Councilwoman Ronica Ondocsin, for securing new meeting space at Dublin Park. The league has outgrown its former space at Hogan Family YMCA. “Madison is known as a chess epicenter now,” Bartlett said.

In paying regular and periodic bills, council approved payments of $17,257.71 to Littlejohn for construction engineering and inspection on County Line Road, Phase II and $70,662.31 to Holzheimer Bolek & Meehan for architectural and engineering services for Madison Public Library.

Mayor Troy Trulock urged motorists to honor the 40 mph speed limit as County Line Road is resurfaced. On Oct. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., new council members will have transition training to get a “quick flavor of city government.”

Council President Tim Holcombe announced appropriation of $10,000 from Council Special Project Budget to Madison Arts Council (MAC). MAC primarily will apply the money to replace artwork on the SPACES Sculpture Trail.

Also, the city will purchase “A Carpenter’s Dream,” or the ‘hammer sculpture’ on Main Street, not to exceed $3,500 to Mississippi artist Kevin Vanek.

District 3 Councilman D.J. Klein attended his last meeting because he will be leaving the country for a few weeks to teach a class in Viet Nam.

Steve Haraway was re-appointed to Place 4, Madison Utilities Board.

Ondocsin received approval to raise pay steps to Level 4 for a senior planner and arts instructor at Madison Senior Center.

Director of Engineering Gary Chynoweth’s proposal was accepted to include Greenbrier Hills, Phase 1 into the city’s maintenance program. Public Works received approval for a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Madison Utilities for paving at Bradford Farms and a storm drain at Champions Green.

Madison Police Department received authorization for a maintenance agreement for records software with Hexagon (Intergraph Corporation).

In first readings, the planning department read three proposed ordinances:

* Vacation of a portion of two utility and drainage easements at 142 Foxfield Drive.
* Annexation of property owned by Michael A. Allen at 150 Roema Drive.
* Annexation of property owned by Papa Jack’s Inc. at southeast corner of Balch and Gillespie roads.

The swearing-in ceremony for recently elected council members and mayor will be held Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers.