Kianca Guyton

The meeting began with the approval of the consent agenda. Key items approved included accepting the minutes of the December 16, 2025, meeting, approving the claims docket, and accepting several departmental changes, such as authorizations to hire three new Full-Time Police Dispatchers and accepting resignations and oaths of office. Other approvals included temporary storage units permits, various Irrevocable Standby Letters of Credit, execution of a credit application with Miller Lumber, modifications to the Center for Contemporary Dentistry Site Plan, authorization for engineering services for the Rice Road Overlay Project, and pursuing funding requests related to a Water Tank through DWSIRLF and the Water Resources Development Act. During the public hearing, variances for new designs related to property at 128 Spotted Acres were unanimously approved. The Board also entered into executive and closed sessions to discuss matters of potential litigation and personnel.

The primary purpose of this special called meeting was to discuss possible action regarding the State Legislature's House Bill 2 concerning School Choice. The City Attorney presented a resolution outlining the city's opposition to House Bill 2 and formally requesting the State Senate not to adopt the bill. This resolution was subsequently approved unanimously by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

The agenda for the meeting included several items under the Consent Agenda, such as accepting minutes from the December 16, 2025 meeting and approving the Claims Docket covering computer checks, manual checks, and payroll. Departmental changes authorized the hiring of three new Police Dispatchers pending testing results and accepted two resignations. The board was set to approve a Temporary Storage Units Permit, accept several Irrevocable Standby Letters of Credit from various banks, authorize the City Clerk to execute a credit application with Miller Lumber, and authorize modifications to the Center for Contemporary Dentistry Site Plan. Further items included authorizing execution of a letter to the Mississippi Department of Transportation regarding Rice Road Overlay engineering services and authorizing a request for ranking and consideration for funding for a Water Tank through DWSIRLF. A resolution was also planned to seek funding through the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). A public hearing was scheduled for an appeal from the Planning and Zoning Commission, and an Executive Session was planned.

The meeting agenda included a presentation to the Madison Central Boys Golf Team. The consent agenda covered the acceptance of previous meeting minutes (excluding the December 2, 2025 minutes), approval of the Claims Docket including computer, manual, and payroll checks, authorization for personnel changes such as hiring a police officer and accepting resignations/retirements, acceptance of certain departmental reports, authorization for travel to a trade show, and approval regarding inventory removal, generator agreements, and charitable sales promotions for the Police Department. Furthermore, the board was set to award 12-month bids for various services, authorize change orders and emergency repairs for department vehicles, authorize a letter of request to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for 219 Funds, authorize land acquisition for an elevated water tank, approve professional service agreements and pay applications related to City Center and Tisdale Pump Station projects, award quotes for a City Hall sign and Public Works building roof repair, and accept amendments to several Letters of Credit. The Community Development section included requests for variances concerning building height and rear yard setback, a conditional use request for a hair salon, and reviews of a preliminary plat and a concept plan for new subdivisions.

The meeting commenced with a presentation recognizing the Madison Central Boys Baseball Team for securing the 2025 State championship title. A Public Hearing was held regarding the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget and tax levies, which concluded without public comment. The Board adopted a resolution fixing the ad valorem tax levies. The Consent Agenda was approved, which included accepting various meeting minutes and claims dockets, accepting departmental changes such as employee resignations and new hires, authorizing equipment disposal, approving travel for firefighter paramedic training, purchasing software, authorizing work orders for sinkhole repairs and pump station changes, approving pay applications for a sidewalk project, authorizing the destruction of unserviceable radios, awarding a contract for drainage pipe replacement, and approving coordination roles for ADA/Title VI compliance. Separately, the Board held public hearings and adopted Cleaning Resolutions for five privately owned properties following reports of maintenance issues. Additionally, the Board approved the elevations and authorized the issuance of a building permit for Mississippi Race Timing. Special recognition was given to Police Chief Gene Waldrop for receiving an award from the FBI National Academy Associates.