The Madison City Commission came together for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 14 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting was kicked off with a presentation by Robin Riley of Florida Government Healthcare Solutions. She presented the city with several options and they voted on their employee healthcare coverage for the fiscal year 2015-16. This year, employees will have the option of keeping their current plan with the same benefits they had before, which will entail a rate increase of 11 percent, or switching to an alternate option with an 8 percent increase and, ultimately, less costly. Next, the Commission held the first reading of the proposed noise ordinance. Consideration of a noise ordinance came about after Mayor Ida Thompson received complaints from residents about loud music and mufflers in their neighborhood. City Attorney, Clay Schnitker, modeled the noise ordinance after the recent ordinance established in Apalachicola, Fl. It regulates and prohibits the emission of harmful noise and declares such noise to be detrimental to public health and comfort.
The proposed ordinance would establish a prohibited decibel level, with exceptions to church bells, ceremonial events and sporting events during the time frame of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. There are operating hours laid in place for the operation of equipment or conduct of activities normal to residential or agricultural communities. For instance: lawn care, soil cultivation, domestic power tools, lawn mowers, maintenance of trees, hedges, gardens, saws and tractors, street sweepers, mosquito fogging, tree trimming and limb chipping are prohibited from the hours of 10 p.m. until 7 a.m. Operation of equipment for solid waste and recycling collection in or adjacent to residential areas is prohibited from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Operation of equipment for solid waste collection in nonresidential locations is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Law enforcement would measure sound with a decibel level meter operating on the A-weighted scale of any standard design and quality meeting the standards prescribed by the American National Standards Association. The proposed ordinance states that any person or entity in violation shall be prosecuted in the same manner as misdemeanors are prosecuted. The first violation is punished with a fine not to exceed $50 dollars, the second offense, $150 dollars, and the third offense entails a $250 fine or imprisonment.
After the reading, commissioners had many concerns, including how to properly enforce the law with a police department that is already working hard and stretched thin. Commissioner Catron recommended they have plenty of time to think about it, perhaps having three readings rather than two. City Manager Tim Bennett stated that homicides, drugs and gangs should take priority at the moment and the noise ordinance should take a back seat for the meantime. Catron agreed, stating, “This is a medium priority; I would like to do it but our greater interests are in what the City Manager just mentioned.” For now, the noise ordinance remains a draft. Next, the commission voted to retain its current millage rate of 7 mills which will produce $610,991 of ad valorem taxes based upon a current gross taxable value of $87,284,418. They then voted to move their monthly meeting from September 8 to September 10, and schedule a Public Hearing on the same date. The Commission was informed of the FRDAP Grants awarded to the city: a $50,000 grant for Lanier field, and a $50,000 grant for Sumpter A. James Jr. Park.
At Lanier Field, $42,000 will go towards tennis courts, $2,500 for football goals, $2,500 for soccer goals, $2,000 for Natural Study Boxes (information on wildlife) and $1,000 for historical signage (history of Lanier Field). At Sumpter, $38,000 will go towards an open air shelter and picnic tables, $1,500 for horse shoe pits, $1,500 for hopscotch and shuffle board, $2,000 for playground facilities, $1,500 for Nature Study Boxes, $1,000 for historical signage, $500 for a walking track and $4,000 for lighting. Lastly, City Manager, Tim Bennett, presented a diagram entitled, “Building and Maintaining Community Relationships,” which is for the City's public safety departments. The diagram lists three steps towards building community relationships: conducting a community relations program, seeking diversity when hiring qualified employees and implementing a strong training program. The diagram, according to Bennett, is a work-in-progress as the city works toward building stronger relationships with community partners.