MADISON – A city council work session in Madison last night tackled what Mayor Paul Finley referred to as a “$70 million revenue budget.”
The marathon session lasted nearly two and half hours as council members discussed funding for road projects, a new facilities department, fire safety, a community center and allocations for Toyota Field, home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
“Our goal is to get a budget, sort of a head nod agreement tonight, that we can then present Monday night for approval,” said Madison City Council President Ranae Bartlett. “We need to pass a budget by the (Sept.) 25th so we can get that set up for the next fiscal year.”
Road improvement projects on deck for the city include new signals, road construction, two new roundabouts and a $3 million ditch improvement with a new retaining wall.
A new city department is also being proposed. The Facilities and Grounds Department would split off from the Building Department. The new department is requesting four employees to replace contractors handling the work.
Councilman John Seifert questioned the need to hire an assistant director and an administrative assistant at this time.
“With the department just starting and having split off from other departments, are those positions really needed right now?” he asked. “Or is there an opportunity to go utilize across other departments to save some money?”
The assistant director at a deputy level position runs in a $86,000 to $97,000 salary range, according to Megan Zingarelli, the city’s human resources director.
Also Monday, a particularly divisive subject was a proposed fire station at Hexagon Building 23A to service Town Madison and the surrounding area.
Citing costs that were underestimated to renovate the building into a fire station, Finley proposed using a smaller portion of the budget to convert the building to hold evidence and contain detective meeting rooms, as well as training rooms for the fire department while additional locations are considered for future needs and improving a Celtic Drive location for $500,000.
Despite protests from the council, Fire Chief David Bailey maintained the mayor’s proposal would meet many needs of the department.
“It makes sense to me to move forward to improve the Celtic site for the long-term use as a training and logistics hub for police and fire which is what we’ve been planning to do for years,” said Bailey. “It’s really why you all approved not to sell the old public works site to begin with.”
Councilmembers also voiced their concern that $1.5 million had been allocated to the city’s new community center instead of a new fire station or police station in the proposed budget.
“Why haven’t we had this discussion well before putting it in a budget and saying you have got to take this a week before we have to pass it,” said Bartlett. “It’s very frustrating to me.”
Bartlett moved to start a new “fire protection fund” with $1.5 million that will be used once the most suitable location for a new fire station is determined.
On the chopping block was a proposal for wayfinding throughout the city. Councilwoman Maura Wroblewski questioned the need for the $750,000 project that would provide placemaking and directional signs in Madison.
“The phrase, you know, of lipstick on a pig was maybe mentioned in a conversation,” said Wroblewski. “I cannot support wayfinding at this point.”
Wroblewski also advocated for a Madison Animal Shelter. The council decided the issue will be taken up in the future, although Wroblewski urged city officials to look at the old fire station on Sullivan Street as a potential location.
Another “future conversation” will tackle infrastructure support from the school systems, according to Finley.
Meanwhile, Toyota Field is facing Major League Baseball-required improvements to the three-year-old stadium that total $6 million. The council remained divided on whether Ballcorps, the owner of the Trash Pandas, or the city should foot the bill for the improvements. The council also decided discussions on allocations to Toyota Field for a new building should be tabled for the moment.
The last issue discussed was the route of the annual Christmas Parade. The Dec. 9 event will potentially be moved out of downtown, against Councilman Teddy Powell’s wishes, to a route that would remain on Hughes Road. Finley said the proposed route from “the Plaza to the skate park” was a safer option and allowed for more parking for residents
Adjustments to the budget are expected before the council takes up a vote on at the regular city council meeting Monday.
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