State of the County: McCutcheon teases new courthouse, promises better roads, public safety and water
MADISON COUNTY – Chairman of the Madison County Commission Mac McCutcheon gave the State of the County Address Wednesday, Nov. 13 at a luncheon hosted by the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce, in which, he focused on the county’s financial health and infrastructure projects.
According to McCutcheon, the county has an excellent bond and credit rating, has enough reserves to last six months in an emergency, and is only dedicating 10% of its revenues to debt.
The rest of the funds that are acquired, mainly through property taxes, are being distributed to public safety and infrastructure projects.
Nearly 50% of the county’s General Fund Expenses go towards Public Safety. The Madison County jail takes 21% of the expenses, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office takes 25%.
Over $103 million has been dedicated to 2025 projects in the county’s 10-year road plan. 14 out of 29 projects in the original 10-year road plan have been completed, and another 22 projects worth $96 million are underway.
In District 2, the county is supporting the widening of I-565 between County Line Road and Wall Triana Highway.
“Stop and think about this. Here we are in Madison County and the work we’re doing. As we look into the 2025 year, we will be involved in the most productive, in the most aggressive transportation plan Madison County has ever undertaken,” added McCutcheon. “We’re trying to meet the needs that we have. Traffic congestion is bad. Safety issues are a concern. We’ve got to address this issue, and we are addressing this issue.”
Water is another piece of infrastructure McCutcheon says the county is focused on improving. The county currently has twenty-one water projects costing $29 million in the works, including a new water storage facility. The improvements to water supply infrastructure come at a key time after this year’s drought.
“Your county government is on the move and working hard to address the challenges ahead concerning infrastructure,” promised McCutcheon.
The commission chairman also touched on a question a lot of Madison County residents have been asking after the federal courthouse and Huntsville city hall both received brand new buildings: Is Madison County getting a new courthouse?
McCutcheon’s answer was noncommittal. He said the thought has occurred to the county commission, “Maybe we do need to tear this building down and rebuild.”
The county is currently exploring its options for new spaces to accommodate county operations. One possibility is to build a new facility for the criminal justice system off-site from the existing courthouse while tearing down and rebuilding the current courthouse for use of other county operations.
The mid-century modern design of the current courthouse is a hot topic, and McCutcheon said they are considering an 1800s or 1900s style with a smaller footprint that is “complementary to the downtown area” for a potential new courthouse. McCutcheon and the county commission already have a piece of property in mind downtown, and he assured that the county intends to keep the courthouse in the downtown area.
McCutcheon is entering a second consecutive term as chairman of the Madison County Commission. He was appointed in 2023 by Governor Kay Ivey and won reelection this Nov., receiving 53% of the vote.
