Madison Board of Aldermen unanimously approves consent agenda, airport grant documents and two Calumet Gardens land approvals

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Madison voted unanimously March 18, 2025 to approve a broad Consent Agenda that included personnel changes, contracts and grant authorizations and to grant site- and plat-level approvals for projects in Calumet Gardens.

The action came at a regular meeting in the Municipal Courtroom of the Madison Justice Complex. Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler called the meeting to order and the board — which recorded no removals from the Consent Agenda — adopted the bundled items on a motion by Alderman Guy Bowering, seconded by Alderman Tawanna Tatum.

Why it matters: the docket included authorization for the mayor to execute Federal Aviation Administration and Mississippi Department of Transportation grant documents connected to an apron expansion at the Madison Airport, several vendor and maintenance contracts, and multiple personnel authorizations that affect city operations.

What the board approved: the Consent Agenda contained minutes and claims dockets; acceptance of the retirement of Chief Deputy City Clerk Lisa Winstead effective April 30, 2025; resignations and authorizations to hire in the Fire, Police, Street, and Parks departments (including hires for full-time police officers listed in the docket); promotion of Dexter Washington to lead mechanic; authorization for the Fire Chief to execute an annual Stryker preventative maintenance contract for cardiac monitors; authorization for the Fire and Police departments to apply for FY2025 Mississippi Homeland Security grants; authorization to execute an annual contract with Capitol Chlorinator & Utility Service for the city’s water treatment system; and a Full Coverage Contract Agreement with Terry Trane service (vendor name listed in the meeting docket).

The Consent Agenda also authorized financial and procurement items: acceptance of multiple bank depositories, award of low bids for right-of-way tree cutting and other vendor work, use of term-bid vendors for curb/gutter/sidewalk repairs, and authorization to obtain a market study from AWG. Multiple resolutions were included on the Consent Agenda — among them a resolution authorizing municipal funds to buy advertising from Mississippi Business Journal, a proclamation of a local emergency for public safety, a resolution requesting the Madison County Wastewater Authority to seek proposals for operation of Beatties Bluff, and ratifications of emergency purchases for sewer cleanup and equipment repair. The board approved appointments to the City of Madison Election Commission as listed in the docket.

Land-use approvals: Community Development Director Kianca Guyton presented two land-use items. First, the board approved a site plan for a law office on Lot 5 and Lot AG2 in Calumet Gardens; the application was made by Ron McMaster Jr. on behalf of LL Real Estate Investments, LLC/Lee Gladden and recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Alderman Janie Jarvis moved approval; Alderman Paul Tankersley seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Second, the board approved amended preliminary and final plats for Calumet Gardens Lots 1–8 and Lots AG0–AG5 to accommodate a parking lot expansion for Madison Ridgeland Academy. The plats incorporated conditions from earlier approvals and were approved on a motion by Alderman Guy Bowering, seconded by Alderman Tawanna Tatum.

Process and next steps: the meeting record shows the board voted unanimously on the Consent Agenda and on both land-use items; the meeting was then adjourned on a motion by Alderman Janie Jarvis. Several items approved in the Consent Agenda require follow-up steps described in the docket (for example, execution of grant documents, vendor agreements and contract signatures); the city attorney was authorized to review certain land and water-well agreement documents as noted in the packet.

The meeting opened with a brief ceremonial presentation — Master Sergeant Joshua Heeren presented a flag that flew while he was stationed in Qatar — and closed after routine business was complete. The minutes indicate the retirement of Chief Deputy City Clerk Lisa Winstead is effective April 30, 2025 and several hires and promotions become effective in late March 2025 as listed in the meeting materials.