Capital Improvement Plan eyes future needs for city services

MADISON – For a city like Madison, planning plays a critical role in both day-to-day operations and in prioritizing future needs.

To answer these needs, Madison uses a five-year Capital Improvement Plan or CIP, which Mayor Ranae Bartlett explained in her newsletter, “Madison Weekly.”

“As Madison continues to grow, planning ahead is one of the most important responsibilities we have to our residents,” Bartlett said. For strategic planning, the city has created the CIP, which is “a ‘roadmap’ for major investments in streets, bridges, public safety, parks, facilities, vehicles and technology.”

The CIP has identified $116.3 million in capital needs during the next five years. The plan consolidates all requests into one location, matches each project to possible funding and shows clearly where the city’s needs extend beyond available resources.

In addition, the CIP includes City Council’s top 14 priorities. The needs focus on public safety, parks and recreation, along with improvements to roads and traffic levels:

• Public safety – Building Fire Station 5; for Station 4, a ladder bay and ladder truck; and 20 fully equipped, pursuit-rated police vehicles. A new fire station and truck would add 18 firefighter positions.

• Roads and traffic — Upgrades to Madison Boulevard; design work for Wall Triana widening; new turn lanes and signal at Mill Road and Sullivan Street; replacement of Mill Road bridge with extended sidewalk; and sidewalk extension along Hughes Road to Conger Road, applying “Sidewalks to Schools” partnership with Madison City Schools.

• Parks and recreation – Construction of Madison Aquatic Center; Miracle League field at Palmer Park to accommodate players of all abilities; and new soccer fields, playground and dog park at Brown’s Ferry Road site.

• City facilities and equipment — City Hall renovations; mini-excavator for Public Works Department; and four pickup trucks to replace aging vehicles in Public Works fleet.

“The CIP is a planning tool — not a budget,” Bartlett said. “Including a project in the plan does not mean it is funded or approved. Each project will come before City Council as funding becomes available. Some projects do not yet have an identified funding source. They are included so residents and council members can see the full picture of our city’s needs.”

Bartlett and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle celebrated a major milestone at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing: one million vehicles built since 2021. The plant produces Toyota Corolla Cross and Mazda CX-50 cars.

Madison Christmas Parade on Dec. 12 will have a new route this year with input from Madison Police Department. Units will line up on Garner Street between Spenryn Drive and Life Way. The parade will proceed north on Garner, turn right (east) on Shorter Street and then right (south) on Celtic Drive and end at Madison City Schools Stadium parking lot. “The celebration will continue at Home Place Park with a Christmas movie and other fun holiday activities,” Bartlett said.

“This new route will lead to the downtown area without crossing the railroad tracks while avoiding the closure of major thoroughfares like Hughes Road and County Line Road,” Bartlett said.

On Oct. 29, the Mayor’s Youth Council visited Madison Public Works to learn about its responsibilities, challenges and importance from Director Kent Smith. Students inspected the heavy equipment. For more information, visit madisonal. gov/1382/Mayors-Youth-Council.

Bartlett and Madison City Council members attended Main Street Madison’s annual meeting to congratulate the organization on another year of progress. The elected officials presented a combined $35,000 in grant funding to support Main Street Madison’s work.

On Oct. 26, the council approved appropriations for HEALS’ medical, dental and vision care in schools; Madison County Health Department, which offers vaccines, WIC and clinical services; WellStone for support in mental health and crisis care; KTECH for training students in technical careers; and Liberty Learning Foundation for patriotic literacy. Bartlett defined an appropriation as “funding that City Council approves to support local organizations that serve Madison residents.”

Visiting the Plains, Bartlett traveled to Auburn to meet with Mayor Ron Anders and city leaders. Joining Bartlett were Chris Holmes, Madison Operations Superintendent, Building and Grounds; Blake Elkins, Grounds Supervisor; and James Manasco, Government Affairs Officer. The group discussed mutual issues, like landscaping. “The visit was a reminder that communities in different corners of Alabama can learn from one another and work together for a better state,” Bartlett said.

Gather Madison on Nov. 8 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. will be a free event for all citizens to share a meal and fellowship. Guests can enjoy chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, rolls and dessert. Madison Visionary Partners will sponsor the gathering at Home Place Park.

City departments reported a weekly summary of their work:

• Madison Police Department — 952 calls for service; 27 arrests; 79 incident reports; 51 citations; and 53 warnings.

• Madison Fire and Rescue Department — 138 total incidents for daily average of 19.7; 2 fire calls; 12 public service calls; and 96 medical calls.

• Madison Municipal Court — 133 cases opened; 182 cases closed; 12 warrants issued; 19 warrants served; 9 warrants recalled; and $39,427.19 collected.

For more information, visit madisonal. gov.