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Residents press Madison County over public-health cuts, consultant pay and new auditor hire
Summary
Multiple public commenters raised transparency and accountability concerns: a lengthy public comment alleged supervisors discussed cutting public-health services and questioned hiring a $250/hour consultant and a part-time auditor assistant; the board approved the temporary hire and agreed to provide official audio upon request.
Public comments at the Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting focused heavily on concerns about recent hiring decisions and possible cuts to public-health services.
Vicky Brenner, speaking during the citizen-request-to-be-heard period, reviewed minutes and recordings from prior meetings and said the board and the board of health discussed cutting homemaker services and other public-health funding. She cited board-of-health minutes that she said recorded supervisors asking the board of health to cut $45,000 from the homemaker budget and $53,000 from public-health funding; she also said the board of health later voted to end the homemaker program in 120 days. Brenner questioned the hiring of a temporary part-time assistant in the auditor’s office and objected to a consultant contract she described as $250 per hour. She called for transparency and filed her comments for the record.
During public comment, Gina Robinson and other residents also questioned leadership, turnover in small offices, and whether budget-reporting deadlines would be met. Carlos House and Mary Lou Bitt urged supervisors to focus on lowering property taxes and to work together.
The board considered and approved a personnel resolution to hire Jay Taylor as a part-time temporary assistant to the auditor at $28.99 per hour, effective Feb. 21; supervisors discussed public reaction to the hourly rate and noted the position is temporary with no benefits. After the extended public comment, the board voted to receive and file the comments and reminded attendees that unofficial video of meetings is available online (private-citizen channel 'Madison Report') and that the clerk can provide official audio.
The complaint-like assertions — including references to a consultant paid $250 per hour and an alleged 'ghost employee'—were raised by speakers and not adjudicated at the meeting; board discussion emphasized public records and recordings as the available evidence for citizens to review. The board did not reverse the personnel action during this meeting; members who voted in favor of the hire said the position and funding were within the adopted budget.
