Madison aldermen unanimously approve wide-ranging consent agenda; mayor honors state-champion volleyball team

Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler and the Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a broad consent agenda at their May 5 regular meeting that included personnel actions, project agreements with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, vendor awards and facility permits. The meeting opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance before the mayor recognized the Madison Ridgeland Academy girls volleyball team for winning the state championship and presented certificates.

The board approved several personnel items on the consent agenda. The council accepted the resignation of shop mechanic Dexter Washington, effective April 29, 2026; authorized the rehire of Nathaniel Sims as a full-time street department laborer effective May 6, 2026; and authorized hiring Devin Kency as a full-time police officer effective June 1, 2026. The consent package also changed Parks Department laborer Jaceon Guydon’s status from full-time to seasonal part-time effective May 14, 2026.

The council accepted departmental reports, including Administration & Finance budgeting reports covering October 2024 through July 2025 and March 2026 reports from the Police and Fire departments. It approved an increase to the ACH payment balance limit on the city’s bank account and authorized an elevator maintenance agreement with Diversified Elevator Company.

Infrastructure and contract approvals were prominent on the consent agenda. The board accepted Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality water tank permit renewal MS-GW-04579 for the Cotton Hill Road water well and authorized the Rice Road Overlay Project No. STP-6940-00 supplemental agreement, with authority to obtain required signatures. The council acknowledged project activation packages for Madison Avenue Phase II and the Main Street Sidewalk TA project and authorized a memorandum of understanding with the Mississippi Department of Transportation for both the 2026 Transportation Alternative Program Main Street Sidewalk Project and Congressional Direct Spending for Madison Avenue Widening Phase II.

Vendor awards and procurement items approved included awarding a turf-treatment quote to U.S. Lawns, purchasing brackets for structural-collapse equipment from NAFECO for the Fire Department, and authorizing removal and disposal (including sending to auction) of unserviceable Fire Department equipment, among them a pontoon boat identified by VIN 4J2PAKW1221075394. The board also authorized Entergy to place a streetlight at Old Canton Road and Calument Drive with the city providing boring, and approved installation of an Entergy electrical meter (Account #214845208) to serve outdoor electrical needs at Strawberry House.

The board adopted resolutions authorizing the use of municipal funds for advertising in the Our Town Newcomers Guide and for Madison Central High School’s Big Blue videoboard sponsorship, and adopted a resolution recognizing the Madison Police Department and other law enforcement and first responders for outstanding work. Contracts and agreements approved or acknowledged included a maintenance agreement with M&R Protective Systems for the Art Center and authorization for Steve Chisolm LLC to perform sidewalk and curb/gutter repairs at 302 Vicna Cove under a term bid.

Alderman Janie Jarvis moved to approve the consent agenda and Alderman Guy Bowering seconded the motion; the board voted unanimously in favor. Alderman Bowering then moved to adjourn the meeting, Alderman Sandra Strain seconded, and the motion to adjourn was also approved unanimously. Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler declared the meeting adjourned.

The meeting record lists the mayor and seven aldermen — Sandra Strain, Tawanna Tatum, Pat Peeler, Janie Jarvis, Paul Tankersley, Mike Hudgins and Guy Bowering — as present. No items were removed from the consent agenda and no separate discussion items were recorded for the matters approved.