Council hears ‘growing pains,’ Three Springs concerns
MADISON – On Aug. 28, Madison City Council heard a summary of the Interim Report that the Madison Schools Growth Impact Committee has produced.
Committee co-chairs Dr. Terri Johnson and Mike Potter presented the group’s initial findings on population increase and school enrollment.
“Stopping growth can’t be done,” Potter said. “About 41 percent of the city’s operational revenue comes from sales taxes, and there is a significant portion due to building material sales. Also, construction permits account for about $1.8 million in city revenue. Accounting for building material sales, and adding the construction permits, the building industry accounts for 12 to 13 percent of Madison’s operational revenue.”
The interim report is available at www.madisonal.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10146.
In public comments, several residents discussed Three Springs residential treatment facility, 1329 Browns Ferry Road. Two teenagers that escaped from Three Springs face murder charges in the death of Van Johnson at Publix supermarket, 12070 County Line Road, on Aug. 14.
Mayor Paul Finley said Madison Police Department is implementing safety changes related to Three Springs. Three Springs is organizing an advisory committee that will include the mayor, Police Chief David Jernigan and District 1 Councilwoman Maura Wroblewski, along with Butch Parrish, Piper Moore and Rev. John Ryberg that Finley appointed.
Finley said if another person escapes from Three Springs that Madison Police Department immediately will release a Nixel warning to the public. “We going to keep all of our options open and keep reviewing the facility,” City Attorney Megan Zingarelli said.
In public comments, Tim Farrell said five people already have escaped this year. “In my opinion, the time to act is now. Three Springs is a ticking time bomb for Madison,” Farrell said.
“Less than a mile away, a person that had committed murder was loose, and we didn’t know about it,” Walden resident Butch Parrish said. Angela Gary said council and mayor could have done a better job in handling the issue.
Stuart Sanderson lives directly behind Three Springs and said he has received verbal threats from the facility’s residents. Jim King called for closure of Three Springs because Madison’s safety has suffered.
Tom Arnold, who recently bought a home in Walden, said he regrets moving to Madison. Rodney Ashcraft said the facility originally was built in an isolated setting for safety purposes.
In other comments, Syed and Arshia Hasan of Sanoma Drive charged Madison Utilities with recording a video at their property.
Council approved these larger bill payments:
* Mr. Electric, two 240-volt pole disconnects for air-supported pool covering, $1,863.03.
* Conditioned Air, two M-Series Mitsubishi Systems for air-supported pool covering, $8,431.
* County Line Road, Phase II, $33,440.31.
* Miller & Miller, removal/installation of curbs and gutters, Downtown Streetscape Phase III, $13,604.96.
* Pearce Construction Company, constructions costs for Madison Public Library, $566,702.25.
* Holzheimer Bolek & Meehan, architectural and engineering services for Madison Public Library, $14,328.69.
* Turner Universal, construction management for Madison Public Library, $20,480.
From Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, council accepted $10,000 to buy technology items and $5000 for bullet-resistant vests for Madison Police Department.
In department reports, the engineering department received approval for two ALDOT payments for a roundabout at Balch and Gillespie roads — $7,500 for intersection modifications and $51,005 for construction agreement.
Two curves on Shelton Road will receive four solar-powered, traffic-warning signs at $25,000.
To prepare for sidewalk construction, J.W. Kennedy & Associates will receive $23,560 for boundary and topographical survey of right-of-way on Wall Triana Highway from Browns Ferry Road to Gillespie Road.
The recreation department will renew an agreement with City of Huntsville for MARS transportation. Annual amount is $26,780.
Finley signed a proclamation to designate September 2017 as “Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month.”
