Madison City Council Meeting: March 23, 2026

The Madison City Council held its regular meeting on March 23, 2026, with all council members present. The council recognized military-connected children, received a presentation from a local fourth-grade class on bridge engineering, heard public comments on a senior center program and neighborhood health concerns, and unanimously approved a consent agenda, several resolutions, and a zoning change. Work sessions and future votes were scheduled.

Presentations & Proclamations

• Mayor Bartlett proclaimed April 2026 as the Month of the Military Child. Representatives Sonia Mullock and Jen Holiday of the Military Child Education Coalition thanked the city for supporting military-connected students.
• Mrs. Merrill's fourth-grade gifted class presented model bridges designed for a pedestrian crossing on County Line Road, outlining their engineering challenges, cost estimates, and design iterations.

Consent Calendar

Councilmember David Beer presented the consent agenda, which was unanimously approved. Items included:

• Surplus of fitness equipment from the Hexagon gym.
• Termination of the dispatch service agreement with the City of Huntsville.
• Approval of EPACT cloud-based emergency management software.
• Authorization for online auction of two Public Works trucks.
• Acceptance of an insurance claim and an $80 donation to the Senior Center. The Finance Committee report highlighted budget overviews provided by the Police and Fire chiefs.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Burke (District 5): Expressed significant health and safety concerns regarding mosquito-borne illnesses from standing water in utility and drainage easements. He argued the water must be eliminated, noting the risk extends to adjacent districts and jurisdictions.
• Kim Alessandro: Testified that the relocation of the ceramics instructor to the new Hughes Road location has prevented the Monday and Tuesday classes from pouring ceramics for 80% of the current semester. She reported that offered volunteer assistance was declined and appealed to the council to address the disruption.

Discussion Items

• Council Reports: Councilmembers provided updates on the I-565 mowing agreement with ALDOT, a National League of Cities conference, new wayfinding signs, an upcoming Easter egg hunt, and a work session on zoning and planning.
• Senior Center Ceramics Program: Responding to public comments, Parks and Recreation Director Alford explained the difficulty in finding a certified ceramics instructor due to liability concerns. He stated HR has posted a new job listing for an additional instructor and that current staff are being cross-trained. Council members discussed the high demand for the program and potential future funding solutions.
• All Nashville Roadshow Event: Business owner Brent Kinnamon described the May 9th concert at Home Place Park as a touring country music festival targeting roughly 500 attendees, requesting a special one-day liquor license.

Key Outcomes

• Items Approved Unanimously:
  • Rezoning of 1.4 acres on Hughes Road from R1B (low-density residential) to B2 (community business).
  • Retail liquor license for Hilton Gardening (145 Graphics Drive) under new management.
  • Appraisal agreement for Royal Drive Improvements ($2,000).
  • Change order for ramp signal survey and design near Town Madison and I-565 ($11,595).
  • ADA compliant detectable mat replacement bid (Whitworth Concrete Works, $115,360).
  • Architectural and engineering design agreement for the Palmer Park Baseball/Softball Building ($80,000).
  • Amendment to bulk trash and yard waste disposal fees (increased by $1.55 per residential unit per month, with a planned 4% increase in 2027, to break even).
  • Job description approval for an Economic Development Administrator.
  • Multiple maintenance support agreements with Unico Technologies ($5,196, $8,715.37, and $76,709.56).
  • Amendment to the public records request fee schedule (adding a $25 minimum processing fee).
  • Agreement with ALDOT for mowing and maintenance of the I-565 right-of-way ($5,000 monthly reimbursement during the growing season).
  • Temporary change order for right-of-way mowing services with Tidewater Landscape.
  • Professional services agreement for an instructional workshop on organizational skills.
  • Special one-day retail liquor license for the All Nashville Roadshow event (May 9, Home Place Park).
• First Readings Introduced (Final vote scheduled for April 13):
  • Ordinance declaring the Farley House a surplus.
  • Vacation of an easement in the New Star State subdivision.
  • Vacation of a utility and drainage easement south of Highway 72.
  • Ordinance adding Madison Lacrosse to the Recreation Advisory Board.
• Referrals and Directives:
  • Councilmember Lesman confirmed the City Attorney will contact Mr. Burke regarding the drainage easement issues.
  • Parks and Rec will cross-train staff and seek an additional ceramics instructor.
• Upcoming Meetings:
  • A work session on zoning and planning updates is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26, at 5:30 PM.