Councilman Clark presents city coin to Jeanne Steadman

MADISON — The next city coin in a series of citizen recognition went to Jeanne Steadman at Madison City Council’s March 11 meeting.

District 6 Councilman Gerald Clark said he chose Steadman to be his coin recipient for the tireless work she has put into the City of Madison through her involvement on numerous boards and committees over the years.

“I first served with her on the cemetery committee … and she really impressed me because we went through a little bit of a tough stretch, and Jeanne’s conviction and ability to see us through that tough time was something that almost seemed natural for her, and I mean that in a strong way,” Clark said. “She’s a strong individual, and when I got to looking at the list and the number of things Jeanne has done, I realized that that strength came through her experience on all the boards and committees she’s served on.”

Clark listed several of those boards and committees, just few of which include the Madison Beautification and Tree Board, Madison Arts Council, Madison Station Historical Preservation Society, Madison Station Historic Preservation Commission, the Old Downtown Redevelopment District Committee, Madison Street Festival and Madison Hospital Women’s Council.

She currently works on the Historic Huntsville Foundation.

In addition, Clark noted that one of Steadman’s many achievements includes working to get Downtown Madison on the National Historic Register. “That’s a big thing, and that’s going to last forever for the City of Madison,” he said.

“I don’t deserve this, but I’ll accept it and cherish it always,” Steadman said after receiving the coin.

Following the coin presentation, Mayor Paul Finley also gave an official letter to Steadman from the city council and mayor’s office thanking her for her service to the city.

“We so appreciate everything that you’ve done for our city, and … our goal is that you’ll continue to do it as we continue to move forward,” Finley told Steadman. “Your experience is so helpful, and we so appreciate it.”

Later in the meeting, council voted to approve two more appropriations. The first of these will benefit The Riley Center, which provides “hope for autism” through services that aim to fulfill the need for early diagnosis and treatment for children with autism. Melody Crane, executive director of The Riley Center, said more than 50 percent of their clients and those on their wait list are from the city of Madison. With the city’s growth, the prevalence of autism is growing as well. The appropriation would help them to continue their current services and expand to meet the needs of a wider range of clients. For more information, visit therileycenter.org.

The second appropriation will support the National Children’s Advocacy Center. The NCAC serves children in Madison County, and executive director Chris Newlin said that last year, NCAC did forensic interviews with 64 kids in Madison and provided child abuse prevention services in public schools. They will hold their 35th Symposium on Child Abuse next week from March 18-21. For more information, visit nationalcac.org.

Council approved all items under the consent agenda and finance committee report, the majority of which entailed payments related to the Town Madison stadium—referred to in the agenda as the “multi-use venue stadium”—and various road improvement projects. Those items include the following:

• about $101,000 to Turner Construction for the multi-use venue stadium
• $23,735 to Geo Solutions for material testing and testing services related to the stadium
• about $2.5 million to Hoar Construction for construction of the stadium
• $39,250 to Croy Engineering for their services to date on the widening of Sullivan Street
• $5,750 to Nivens Associates & Appraisals Inc. for five appraisals related to the Kyser Boulevard improvements
• about $14,000 to S&ME Inc. for their services rendered through Feb. 23 related to the widening of Hughes Road
• nearly $172 to S&ME Inc. for a peer review related to the Balch/Gillespie roundabout
• nearly $560 to the City of Huntsville for the City of Madison’s share int he right of way acquisition to date for the Zierdt Road project
• about $28,800 to 5R Design for the new Public Works facility

Other items approved include $300 to OMI Inc. for the Palmer Park rejuvenation project; $260 for concrete supplied for the library land and parking project; a purchase and service agreement for tasers from Axon Enterprise Inc.; authorization for the purchase of new file cabinets; and travel advances for city employees to attend trainings.

Council also accepted two donations: $1,450 from the Rotary Club for the Madison Public Library’s Children’s Garden and $1,495 from Grainger Photography for youth basketball purposes.

After two public hearings relating to zoning of certain properties, council voted to approve these measures at the recommendation of the Planning Department. These ordinances will allow for the annexation of a residential home on Patricia Road and the annexation and zoning of 3.5 acres on Hardiman Road as agriculture. Council also voted to authorize the assessment of a weed lien for a vacant lot on County Line Road after a public hearing.

Council also approved all items on the agenda for the Engineering, Planning and Legal departments. These respectively include the following:

• authorization for the mayor to accept a quotation of $8,700 from ESRI Inc. for annual software maintenance support for engineering
• traffic engineering services agreement with Troy Engineering for the collection of data to optimize signal timings and perform signal progression along two city corridors
• two ordinances related to the two public hearings from the Planning Department
• professional services agreement with Turf & Soil Diagnostics  for services related to the multi-use venue stadium
• installment agreement with Ballcorps to reimburse the city for the purchase of food service equipment for the stadium
• ordinance regulating permitting, siting and construction of wireless telecommunications facilities

During public comments, Tom Scovill addressed the council about the gas tax bill, which the Alabama House of Representatives recently passed. Scovill claimed the bill was “unconstitutional,” citing Alabama Constitution Amendment 354. He said the bill will not benefit Madison and told the council they could challenge it. Scovill also mentioned the 12-mil property tax increase, which if authorized, he said, means the millage can be 12 or less.

Those who wish to speak at council meetings are free to register for a slot ahead of the meeting. Madison City Council typically meets on the second and fourth Mondays of every month at 6 p.m. in the council chambers on the main level of Madison Municipal Complex, located at 100 Hughes Rd. The next meeting will be March 25. Stay up to date on city and council matters at www.madisonal.gov.