Madison council approves fund to finance Damon L. Welch Park revitalization

MADISON — The Madison City Council voted unanimously Jan. 20 to approve Ordinance 2026‑1, creating the Damon L. Welch Park Project Fund to collect contributions and cover expenditures for a planned park revitalization.

Mayor (identified in the transcript as 'Mister Mayor') said the ordinance, sponsored by Councilwoman Krebs, establishes the fund's purpose, permitted sources of revenue and allowable uses. He told the council bids for the park construction were opened earlier that day and said six bids were received.

An unnamed councilmember who moved to waive the rules so the council could consider the ordinance at the same meeting explained the procedure as a teaching moment for Boy Scouts in attendance: the council may read and vote on an ordinance the same night if members agree to suspend the usual two‑week waiting period. “We don't see the need for waiting another two weeks to set up that fund for the park,” the councilmember said.

After discussion about the fund's intent and the bid review process, the council recorded a roll call vote (Tavanagh, Krebs, Datillo, Schaefer, Storm, Bartlett and Wilbur) with all members voting yes. The mayor stated the ordinance carries.

City staff said the bids will be reviewed with the city engineers and a recommendation on an award will be made to the Board of Public Works and Safety at its next meeting, two weeks from the council meeting. The mayor said a groundbreaking would follow the award.

The ordinance creates a designated project fund to capture both contributions and other revenue sources and to track expenditures for Welch Park's revitalization. Councilmembers emphasized the fund is to manage project receipts and spending rather than create new regulations.

Next steps: staff will complete the bid evaluation, the Board of Public Works and Safety will consider award recommendations in two weeks, and the council will oversee subsequent project updates.