Madison County declares COVID‑19 disaster, approves emergency appropriation and pandemic‑related contracts
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Summary
On April 15 the Madison County Board proclaimed a local disaster for COVID‑19, approved a $14,825 emergency appropriation to cover museum utilities, awarded a 36‑month fiber internet contract for $30,600 and approved a one‑year detention‑medical contract for $40,540.92.
Madison County continued formal COVID‑19 emergency actions on April 15, adopting a proclamation that activates the county emergency operations plan and declaring a disaster effective April 15 until the board decides otherwise.
Gussie Glasper presented the proclamation, which cites CDC guidance and said activation will “assist the residents of Madison County by and through its Emergency Management Agency” and coordinate federal, state and local resources. The board approved the proclamation by voice vote.
On finance matters tied to the emergency, the board approved an immediate emergency appropriation of $14,825 from the General Fund to the Museum Fund to cover utilities the Madison County Historical Society had paid in prior years but did not pay in 2020. Don Moore explained the funds were added back to allow the museum to pay water, trash, propane and electricity.
The board also approved a 36‑month, 500 Mbps fiber internet services agreement with Charter Communications totaling $30,600. The Information Technology Committee said the award was necessary to expand bandwidth for remote work during the COVID emergency and that the contract will be reimbursed by county offices.
Separately, the board approved a one‑year contract for professional medical services at the Madison County Detention Home with Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc. for $40,540.92; the contract will be paid from the Detention Home budget.
These votes were taken amid broader budget and personnel debates in the meeting; several of the procurement actions were presented as necessary to maintain county operations while staff work remotely or to meet public health needs.
What’s next: The proclamation keeps the county emergency plan active; the contracts and appropriation take effect as administered through the relevant departments and budgets.
Votes and dollar amounts were recorded in the meeting minutes and the board directed committees to continue oversight of pandemic‑related spending.