Madison commission sets Jan. 6 hearings, approves ordinances and budget adjustments and awards bids

The Madison City Commission on an evening meeting set a public hearing for the petition to vacate the right-of-way on North Lee Avenue for Jan. 6, 2025, and approved a series of ordinances, resolutions and procurement awards affecting city budgeting, utilities and sidewalk projects.

Jamieson, speaking for city staff, described the vacation petition as a request from Dakota State University and two neighboring property owners and said engineering had coordinated notices and review; the commission voted to set the Jan. 6 hearing at 5:30 p.m. "They did work with 2 other of the property owners that are affected and all 3 property owners signed the request for vacation of the right of way," Jamieson said.

The commission approved second readings of two ordinances that will change local permitting and franchise terms. On ordinance 1675, Jamieson said staff recommended removing permitting requirements for peddlers and hawkers, noting recent court decisions may make the permitting approach problematic and that "staff are supportive of removing it." The body also approved ordinances extending franchises for Mid Continent Communications and Clarity Telecom (Blue Peak) with changes that require telecommunications companies to relocate lines within 30 days when the city requests, allow rate notices to be posted on company websites rather than mailed in the paper, and replace language providing free service to schools with language providing free service to the city.

On finance matters, the commission approved the first reading of ordinance 1678 to make supplemental appropriations for 2024 and a separate contingency fund transfer (resolution 2024-44). Jamieson described two principal adjustments: about $328,000 to highways and streets and roughly $2,100,000 to City Hall to align fiscal-year 2024 appropriations with actual expenditures after a City Hall project completed earlier than expected. "This is an ordinance that adjusts our budget that was approved...to be in line with what actually is needed to be appropriated for the fiscal year 2024," Jamieson said. The resolution authorizing a contingency transfer also passed.

The commission set hearings and acknowledged necessity resolutions for four sidewalk projects for 2025 — two repair-improvement items and two projects to add sidewalks in areas that do not currently have them — and staff encouraged interested residents to attend the Jan. 6 hearings or contact engineering staff.

Other actions included authorizing the finance officer to sign certain USDA grant and loan documents related to an Egan Avenue reconstruction project and a restricted-use site; approving a one-year voluntary extension of the wheeling agreement that supplies WAPA power to Dakota State University to allow negotiation of a new five-year contract (a commissioner announced a recusal on that item); and approving the Federal Highway Administration urban boundary map update for Madison.

On procurement, staff recommended and the commission approved awards for two bid packages: bid 966 for electrical materials to support a 2025 conversion of some overhead lines to underground (low bidders included Erbe Utilities and Border States Electric; total reported about $454,000, a favorable variance from the engineer's estimate of $598,000) and bid 967 for chemicals (recommended awards to Pete Lien and Sons and Hawkins Incorporated across schedules). The commission also confirmed the 2025 election date as April 8, 2025, to be held in conjunction with the Madison Central School District.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve the agenda — carried (voice vote). - Consent calendar amended to remove item 7 for discussion — carried (voice vote). - Ordinance 1675 (second reading) — remove permitting for peddlers/hawkers; approved (voice vote). - Ordinance 1676 (second reading) — Mid Continent Communications franchise extension with updates; approved (voice vote). - Ordinance 1677 (second reading) — Clarity Telecom/Blue Peak franchise extension with updates; approved (voice vote). - Set public hearing: petition to vacate North Lee Avenue — hearing set for Jan. 6, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.; motion carried (voice vote). - Ordinance 1678 (first reading) — supplemental appropriations for 2024; first reading approved (voice vote). - Resolution 2024-44 — contingency fund transfer for 2024; approved (voice vote). - Sidewalk necessity resolutions and hearings (items 18–21) — hearings set/necessity acknowledged; motions carried (voice votes). - Resolution 2024-45 — authorize finance officer to sign USDA documents; approved (voice vote). - Voluntary extension agreement for wheeling power (DSU/WAPA) — one-year extension approved; motion carried (voice vote); recusal noted on record. - FHWA urban boundary map for Madison — approved (voice vote). - Award bid 966 (electrical materials) — awarded to low bidders; approved (voice vote). - Award bid 967 (chemicals) — awarded to recommended vendors; approved (voice vote). - Set 2025 election date (04/08/2025) — approved (voice vote).

Finance Officer Amy reported general cash and investment balances and noted November sales tax was down 5.18% for the month but up 6.18% year-to-date; the 2023 audit is confirmed for Jan. 6. The commission adjourned and scheduled its next regular meeting for Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.