Council approves stadium’s infrastructure agreement
MADISON – On March 12, Madison City Council’s most far-reaching vote was approval of infrastructure funding agreement for Town Madison Cooperative District and baseball stadium/multi-use venue.
The vote was 6-1, with District 6 Councilman Gerald Clark voting nay. At its Feb. 26 meeting, council continued action about the funding agreement until more information was available for study.
Most public comments focused on the baseball stadium/multi-use facility. Marji Daly said the lease needed a second look and contained “high-risk” components. Jeff White said “the stadium monster needs to be fed” millions of dollars each year.
Scott Fillmore disagrees with reserving 25 box seats for city employees. Mayor Paul Finley said Ralph Nelson with BallCorps recommended the suite with box seats to promote economic development and show city amenities to visiting business professionals.
In addition, Denise Phillips with New Leash on Life asked the council to consider another rescue group to operate in the city.
Council approved the following larger payments:
* Populous Inc. — Design development for multi-purpose venue at Town Madison, $662,000.
* Turner Construction Company — Management and value engineering services for multi-purpose venue at Town Madison, $175,000.
* Holzheimer Bolek & Meehan — Architectural services for Madison Public Library, $902.76.
* Lee Builders — Installation of Dublin Pool air-supported structure, second payment for $107,761.25.
* Populous Group LLC — Baseball stadium study, $91,951.65.
* Miller & Miller Inc. — Mill Road Bridge replacement, $10,341.95.
* CDG Engineering — Redesign and utility coordination, Downtown Streetscape Phase III, $2,632.
Finley received approval by 6-1 vote to present $14,990 in annual appropriation to Madison Animal Rescue Foundation or MARF. MARF Director Miki Bennett said the organization had taken in 532 animals in the last 12 months and averages about 50 animals in care at any time.
In MARF discussion, District 1 Councilwoman Maura Wroblewski read two letters from residents with complaints about MARF’s adoption procedures; Wroblewski voted nay for the appropriation. District 3 Councilman Teddy Powell said Bennett had posted negative comments about city council on social media. District 6 Councilman Gerald Clark said online comments cannot be retracted from the public’s memory.
Madison Bicentennial Committee opened an account with Synovus Bank.
District 4 Councilman Greg Shaw encourages residents to attend the joint meeting of Madison City Council, Madison Board of Education and Madison Schools Growth Impact Committee on March 22 at 7 p.m. at Central Office.
District 7 Councilman John Seifert was authorized $15,000 for this summer’s Dizzy Dean Baseball Tournament.
The engineering department rejected bids as too expensive for overlay of Hughes Road walkway and ADA project.
Lawn Masters will handle landscape maintenance for Madison Public Library.
