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Madison council approves flood-recovery resolution waiving fees, covering debris removal for riverfront properties
Summary
The council passed Resolution 2025-5C to support flood recovery after recent Ohio River and storm-related damage, waiving transfer-station and certain permit fees for impacted residents and businesses and authorizing free debris removal.
The City of Madison Common Council on April 22 approved Resolution 2025-5C to support recovery from recent storms and river flooding that damaged riverfront public spaces and private structures.
The resolution waives solid-waste and debris-removal fees for residents and businesses in the affected area, including transfer-station fees, and waives building-permit fees for impacted properties (property owners must still apply for required permits). City officials told council the action is intended to speed recovery and reduce costs for residents and small businesses.
Why it matters: Council and staff said the April storms and high Ohio River levels caused damage primarily along Madison's riverfront and affected more than 60 structures within the city limits. City staff reported processing more than 160 tons of debris at the transfer station in the week following the storms.
Details and process - Fee relief: Solid-waste and debris removal related to the flood will be free in Madison; transfer-station fees will be waived for affected residents and businesses. Building-permit fees for impacted properties will be waived, but permits remain required where work is necessary. - Affected geography: Staff described the impact as concentrated on the riverfront roughly "from West First Street down to Fulton Street," and said over 60 structures were impacted. - State and federal coordination: The mayor said the governor declared a disaster for the area; county and state damage assessments are underway and federal requests (FEMA) will follow if damage thresholds are met.
Vote and next steps - The council voted to approve Resolution 2025-5C. Roll-call attendance and votes at adoption were recorded during the meeting and showed unanimous support from councilors present; Joel Storm was recorded absent in the roll call. - City staff said they are coordinating with Jefferson County EMA, the state and the Red Cross on damage assessments and recovery efforts. The mayor planned to meet with the governor for further discussion.
Ending note: Council emphasized the temporary nature of fee waivers and said additional recovery steps will follow as damage assessments and grant opportunities are evaluated.
