Groups give, receive at council meeting

Teachers and civic volunteers accepted grants from Madison Street Festival officers at Madison City Council’s Jan. 11 meeting. RECORD PHOTOS/GREGG L. PARKER

MADISON – Community groups both received and distributed funds at Madison City Council’s Jan. 11 meeting.

Council passed three resolutions for annual appropriations to three non-profit organizations, which reported on their recent projects.

Karen Lawler represented Madison Beautification and Tree Board, which will receive $10,000. Marie Bostick spoke about work by Land Trust of North Alabama, also receiving $10,000.

Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville-Madison County, represented by Chip Cherry, was awarded $25,000 for its annual appropriation from Madison City Council.

Sharon Holcombe, 2015 President of Madison Street Festival (MSF), discussed the 2015 festival’s success, despite rainy weather. Four shuttles ran continuously all day from Madison City Schools Stadium and CrossPointe Church to downtown locations. Holcombe praised 40 hard-working, dedicated volunteers who “pull it all together.”

Holcombe and Keegan Mumaw presented grants from Madison Street Festival, totaling $5,985.36:

* Madison City Chess League, $100

* Madison Adaptive Sports, $400

* Madison City Schools Spanish program, $400

* Mill Creek Elementary School — STEM Lab, $300; media center, $300; and Achieve 3000, $300

* Heritage Elementary School — Reading department, $300 and Reading Coast-to-Coast, $300

* Madison Elementary School — Music, $385.36

* Horizon Elementary School — Second-grade “Scholastic News,” $300 and DynaMath, $300

* Liberty Middle School — Drama, $400 and media center, $400

* James Clemens High School — Construction Academy, $300; theatre, $300; and At-Risk assistance, $300

* Bob Jones High School — “Patriot Pages,” $300; chemistry department, $300; and Medical Academy, $300.

Council approved several bill payments, including Holzheimer Bolek & Meegan, architectural and engineering services for Madison Public Library, $46,871.96; Wiregrass Construction Company, Mose Chapel Road improvements, $56,358.42; and Barge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon Inc., Garner Street drainage improvements, $19,007.

Taron Thorpe presented Industrial Development Board’s annual report. Councilman Mike Potter recognized hard work by Madison Public Works Department during flooding around Christmas.

Councilman Tommy Overcash encouraged everyone to attend Connect 2016 on Jan. 29 at The Davidson Center. Council President Tim Holcombe stated several boards have vacancies, listed at www.madisonal.gov.

Council will conduct a work session on Jan. 20 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.