Rick Patrick, Greene Publishing, Inc.
At the Wednesday, Nov. 9 meeting the Madison County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a budget and contract amendment for a fifth cycle of mowing for the fiscal year 2016-17 at a cost of $22,427.39. This amount will be paid out of road maintenance funds. This issue has been an item of much discussion since some citizens complained about overgrown grass on roadsides and sidewalks, especially in the Martin Luther King Dr. area. It is expected that this extra cycle of mowing will greatly improve the appearance of the area, especially during the spring and summer months. This item passed unanimously.
In other business, the commission decided to pass items on the consent agenda. Items on the consent agenda included a proclamation of Thursday, Nov. 17 as World Pancreatic Cancer Day in Madison County. Pancreatic cancer is now the third leading cause of cancer related death in the U.S. An estimated 41,780 Americans will die of pancreatic cancer in 2016. In 2016, this disease will afflict more than 53,000 Americans, 71 percent of whom will die within one year of diagnosis, and 92 percent will die within five years of diagnosis. The purpose of World Pancreatic Cancer Day is to shine a spotlight on this deadly disease and hopefully make progress in developing treatments and early detection tools. Another item on the consent agenda was the approval of the Madison County Sheriff's Office confiscated currency expenditure in the amount of $14,000 for the purchase of a new vehicle. Approval of a budget amendment in the amount of $13,850 to correct recording entries in the law enforcement and corrections fund was passed. Re-appointment of Travis Renfroe and Curtis Johnson to the Competency Board was passed.
In new business, the commissioners voted to accept a recreation compact with the Suwannee Valley League of Cities. This agreement with other communities in the area is meant to promote the natural resources of the area and promote existing greenways and trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, etc. The commissioners also voted to accept an agreement with the Government Services Group to update the county's fire and solid waste assessment programs. This study will cost $45,000 and will be good for six years. This is the same rate this group charged six years ago. The funds for this study have already been budgeted. The commissioners then approved a contract extension with RS&H, Inc. for Madison County landfill remediation.
There was a discussion and presentation by Leigh Barfield, Property Appraiser, regarding the Computer Aided Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system. Barfield told the commissioners there would be a need to upgrade her computers. No action was required at this time.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned. The next scheduled meeting of the Board of County Commissioners is on Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 6 p.m., in the commission meeting room in the Courthouse Annex at 229 SW Pinckney St., in Madison.