Madison County approves two appointments to municipal utility board after state law change

Madison County supervisors on June 15 approved two appointments to a municipal utility board after a county official summarized a recently signed House bill that the speaker said permits county appointment when a utility serves a significant share of customers outside city limits.

The board discussed the statute, which the presenter cited as House Bill 1563 and also referenced a section/number during the explanation. The presenter said the law allows counties to appoint up to two members to a municipal utility board when the utility’s service outside corporate limits exceeds the statutory threshold.

After that explanation a supervisor moved to appoint Joe Barlo and Deborah Martin to the CMU board effective July 1. Another supervisor offered a substitute motion to appoint Deon Martin and John Garrett instead. The substitute motion failed and the board then approved the original appointment motion by voice vote.

Board discussion included comments that residents who live and pay revenue to the utility should have representation, and that long-standing portions of the county have been without direct representation on the utility board. No ordinance or appointment number was referenced on the record.

What happens next: the two appointees are to begin serving on the utility board on July 1, per the motion approved at the meeting. The board did not record roll-call vote tallies for the appointments in the transcript; outcomes were announced by voice vote.

Sources: Remarks and motions on the June 15 Madison County Board of Supervisors meeting.