Madison County board approves additional borrowing for roads and Makita industrial park

The Madison County Board of Supervisors on April 6 approved a request to issue additional county bonds to continue road improvements and to complete previously authorized borrowing for an industrial park project.

County finance staff told the board the county originally authorized up to $94 million for dedicated road improvements over a two-year period. In 2024 the county borrowed $19 million and in 2025 it borrowed $35 million; the board approved up to $15 million in additional borrowing to continue ten named road projects and the circuit courthouse construction. Separately, the board approved an additional $10 million for the Makita industrial-park land purchase (the county previously borrowed $10 million under the same authorization).

Thad Varner, presenting the request, said the county may need to return next year if additional funds are required, but the current ask was $15 million for roads and courthouse projects and $10 million for Makita. He said staff expected the bonds to sell later in April or early May and the county to receive proceeds in late May.

Supervisors moved and approved the borrowing by voice vote. The motion directed staff to proceed with bond sale preparations and report back on timing and any changes to borrowing amounts.

No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript; the board approved the motion by voice vote ('All in favor, say aye'). The board did not set a new authorization amount beyond the requested borrowing; staff retained discretion to return if project needs require additional borrowing.

The board did not detail debt-service schedules, interest-rate assumptions or which specific road segments would be finished with the $15 million; those details were left to county finance and project managers to finalize and report to the board.