Madison, Alabama City Council Regular Meeting – January 26, 2026

The Madison City Council met at 6:00 PM on January 26, 2026, in Council Chambers. Mayor Ranae Bartlett and all seven council members were present. Although the agenda header said the meeting was rescheduled to January 29 due to winter weather, the transcript records a full meeting on January 26, and this summary follows the transcript and provided date.

Agenda Amendments

• Council accepted two amendments: Legal item Ordinance 2026-054 was made a first reading only (striking the request for immediate consideration), and Recreation Resolution 2026-056-R (Ford F-350 purchase) was moved to the February 9 agenda.

Presentations & Recognitions

• Mayor Bartlett presented a proclamation designating January 2026 as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month. Chelsea Sparks of Children's Aid Society of Alabama, with Angela Thompson and Stephanie Jones, accepted. Sparks spoke about trafficking occurring in every community and urged support for law enforcement and advocacy organizations.
• Trey Johnikin, an eighth grader at Liberty Middle School, read his winning Martin Luther King Jr. essay. He was recognized by the mayor and council, along with the superintendent and school board president.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A resident criticized the consent agenda, saying five nonprofit appropriations were approved without finance committee meetings and without transparency or accountability. He asked how much the City of Huntsville contributes to the Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce, noting that the $50,000 appropriation plus a previously approved $100,000 to the Madison Chamber equaled the suggested annual appropriation of $150,000. He also opposed making the half-cent sales tax permanent, stating that permanent taxes should be on the ballot and calling the measure a 3% payback for campaign contributions from Mr. Breland, described as the state's largest donor; he said the city general fund receives only 0.25 because schools receive 0.25. He cited an audit saying Madison City Schools revenue was $42 million and spending was $47 million, a $5 million deficit.
• Near the end of the meeting, at the council's discretion, Grayson Hawkins was allowed to speak after public comments had closed. He described an unsafe intersection near Arden Daycare in the Town Madison/Dunlop area, involving Lime Quarry Road, a missing stop sign, and an elevated parking lot obstructing drivers' views; he asked for the proper channel to report it to Engineering.

Consent Calendar & Finance Committee Report

• Councilmember David Bier explained that the December 22 finance committee meeting was canceled for lack of a quorum and the January meeting was canceled early by him. He said agenda packets include the agreements and scopes of work, and the finance committee receives monthly financial reports.
• The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included:
  • Resolution 2026-006-R: $7,500 to Liberty Learning Foundation
  • Resolution 2026-007-R: $5,000 to Health Establishments At Local Schools
  • Resolution 2026-008-R: $20,000 to Partnership For A Drug-Free Community
  • Resolution 2026-009-R: $50,000 to Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville Madison County
  • Resolution 2026-010-R: $5,000 to Madison Greenways and Trails
  • Resolution 2026-049-R: Acceptance of an insurance settlement of $3,250 (less $1,000 deductible) for ballpark stadium fencing damage
  • Acceptance of a $663.98 donation from PropertyRoom.com to the Police Department Donation account
  • Acceptance of a $10.00 donation from B. Johnson for Madison Senior Center Programming
• Council President Wroblewski clarified that the earlier $100,000 appropriation went to the Madison Chamber of Commerce, a separate organization from the Huntsville Madison County Chamber. Finance Committee meetings will move to 7:00 a.m. on the fourth Monday of each month.

Mayor and Council Reports

• Mayor Bartlett thanked city staff, public works, public safety, code enforcement, and community volunteers for their response to winter weather and for relocating Sutton Apartments residents; she said every remaining resident was relocated on Friday on time under the order to vacate.
• Councilmembers gave district reports covering the public safety annex/fire station tour, the Burgreen/Hardeman intersection signal project, Palmer Park improvements and closure, Dublin Park pool usage, community events, Advocacy Day with the Alabama League of Municipalities, and Madison City Schools' 25 newly nationally board-certified teachers (bringing the total over 120).
• Council President Wroblewski reported on Madison Utilities Board meetings: water service at Sutton Apartments was shut off after the property owner failed to pay; the fire department was not notified for about 36 hours; the owners have been behind since 2022; Huntsville Utilities did not turn off water at three other complexes owned by the same company; and the board declined her request to waive deposits for about 12 relocating families.

Department Reports

• Engineering: Resolution 2026-041-R approved a $5,100 appraisal agreement with Nivens & Associates for the Powell & Burgreen intersection project. Resolution 2026-043-R approved an $11,500 topographic survey agreement with Halliburton Surveying & Mapping for Madison Farms property on Huntsville Brownsferry Road for future park improvements (soccer fields, dog park, playground). During discussion, Councilmember White asked about a house and renters on the property; staff said that is handled by facilities/grounds rather than engineering.
• Legal: Ordinance 2026-036 passed on second reading, making permanent the half-cent sales tax dedicated to Madison City Schools, removing the 2027 sunset, and including a carve-out for economic development such as the Costco property. Councilmember Jackson said without renewal more than 50 teaching positions could be cut (including 24 pre-K teachers, 7 English-language-learner teachers, 5 elementary STEM teachers, and 3 each in art and music). Multiple councilmembers spoke in favor. Ordinance 2026-054 was read for the first time only; it authorizes a joint light-duty vehicle purchase agreement with Huntsville from Woody Anderson Ford and Donohoo Chevrolet and will return for a vote on February 9.
• Planning: Resolution 2026-050-R approved a $6,500 agreement with Big River Electric for electrical installation for a new City of Madison wayfinding sign on Old Madison Pike. Proposed Ordinance 2026-025 received first reading for annexation of Lots 41-43 in Morris Estates (2.3 acres). Resolution 2026-023-R set a March 9 public hearing on R-1A low-density residential zoning for the same lots upon annexation.
• Recreation: Resolution 2026-055-R approved a transportation agreement with Madison City Schools for 2026 special events, including the Fourth of July, Easter egg hunt, and day camp.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of January 12, 2026, were approved as written; no separate minutes document was included in the source materials.
• All items voted on during the meeting passed unanimously by roll call: consent agenda, Resolutions 2026-041-R, 2026-043-R, 2026-050-R, 2026-023-R, 2026-055-R, and Ordinance 2026-036.
• Ordinance 2026-054 will be voted on February 9.
• Annexation of Morris Estates Lots 41-43 will be voted on in March; the zoning public hearing is set for March 9, 2026.
• Recreation Resolution 2026-056-R was moved to the February 9 agenda.
• The meeting adjourned after announcements.