[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6300547,"mediaKeyId","2492945-aff4a703a880385a11c8f597c41e2576","parentId",2492945,"title","Votes at a glance: Madison County Commission approves contracts, travel requests and budget adjustments","audioSeconds",6119,"startMs",700000,"endMs",6819000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2492945-aff4a703a880385a11c8f597c41e2576&start=700&end=6819","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2492945-aff4a703a880385a11c8f597c41e2576/thumbnail_700000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6300547/Madison-County/Alabama/Votes-at-a-glance-Madison-County-Commission-approves-contracts-travel-requests-and-budget-adjustments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300547-77fe80d08a717f0f8bf9c22dcd38f8f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771035766&Signature=iCDdBbNPFO1lCB9AlRuuCT5zdumwDh1xAEs6qcm3lzNAtTQDeYv~pEvhQLkW7B9NFXLe0m1x0whmczccECK-mPJcbsru0ylc~ywkvqKhH7oBxEouKpfvgKWLozcRd7z-xPYxx6u8UrsAYoVS6p25G-2eL79FkB-naeU44541JMqWdj1AgRHEQmzH1zizYcw2ZjrKYMbe3NbX4aYfoNumD1z5KQBaT~YvTynfsYe6xm1L2VdUPIRrsNPZ7Ls5LTvexCDQN7qlmAGwaoXH47x9WllPfcyGOSZ3HmOKpOPVOoUmbfz9CpMIkOf8CZniTX21wenAxnatkAu4J6krkwOzSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Madison County, AL","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","At its March meeting the Madison County Commission approved a packet of routine business including contract authorizations, vendor renewals, travel requests and budget adjustments. The meeting included the previously reported action on sheriff compensation and a series of procurement and contract votes needed to support county operations and upcoming events.

Votes at a glance (agenda item, short description, outcome):
- Item 3: Approval of February 2025 minutes — adopted.
- Items 4–8: Announcements of vacancies to several boards (Place 5 of county 310 board; county appointment to Top of Alabama Regional Housing Authority; Huntsville‑Madison County CVB Place 2; Wellstone, Inc. places 2–4) — announced (no vote required).
- Item 9: Sheriff compensation resolution — amended and adopted (see separate article for full discussion).
- Item 10: Increase county travel pre‑approval threshold from $2,000 to $3,000 (effective for travel submitted after March 1) — adopted.
- Item 11: Adopt 2025–26 Alcoholic Beverage Control license fees (no substantive fee increase other than a state‑required $50 fee for winery tasting permits) — adopted.
- Items 12, 22: Ratifications/agreements with Erwin & Associates for window treatments at courthouse and sheriff’s office (small value and remodel items) — ratified/adopted (12: $437; 22: $8,143).
- Items 13–14: Facility rental with Huntsville Botanical Garden for the Madison County Leadership Summit (discounted rental) and Troy University agreement for communications training — authorized.
- Item 15: $25,000 appropriation from the chairman’s budget to National Children’s Advocacy Center (501(c)(3)) — authorized.
- Items 16–18: District 4 door installation, flagpole installation at Madison Crossroads Community Center, and Purefit agreement for senior wellness at Harrison Center — authorized (various district capital/service items; one no vote noted on item 13 and one no vote on item 13 earlier logged).
- Item 19: Agreement with Morrell Engineering for Pulaski Pike/Toney Road intersection engineering (not‑to‑exceed $117,500) — authorized.
- Item 20: MOU to share IT services with the Madison County District Attorney (no cost agreement; DA to pay any software licenses) — authorized.
- Items 21, 29, 30, 31: Renewals and equipment purchases including termite control ($754 annual), security camera installations, Axon equipment for sheriff, and TransUnion subscription for investigative searches — authorized (costs listed in agenda materials).
- Items 23–24: Access control and AV equipment for remodeled sheriff’s office — authorized ($11,654.49 and $17,755.37 respectively).
- Item 25: Renewal agreement for inpatient/outpatient treatment services with Sonya Clemens for probate court programs — authorized ($2,000/month reported).
- Items 26–28: Renewals for fueling station repair and maintenance agreements (three vendors) — authorized (total prior year spend $25,671 across vendors).
- Items 29–31: Security equipment and Axon purchases and TransUnion subscription — authorized (see above for amounts).
- Items 32–33: Travel requests approved (Judge Claude Huntley to attend RISE conference — $3,495 — funded from opioid settlement funds; Deputy Matthew Causey training — $3,154) — authorized.
- Item 35: Purchasing/purchasing recommendations and bid awards (salt spreaders, signage materials, vehicles, mower and chairs) — awards recommended by purchasing adopted.
- Item 36: Subdivision plat approval — Creekside at Cliff Farm Phase 2 (seven lots) — approved.
- Item 37: Budget adjustments (district equipment purchases, fund transfers, park equipment, sheriff pistol permit equipment and insurance proceeds) — adopted.

Several routine consent and contract items were taken individually and passed by majority voice votes. When a commissioner opposed an item the chair recorded the opposition and the minutes reflect that single dissent across two separate roll calls; the chair and county staff confirmed the adopted contract and procurement items will be processed through normal purchasing and contract execution channels.

Ending: The meeting closed after public comment on neighborhood blight in a subdivision in District 1; commissioners said staff would follow up. The commission scheduled its next regular meeting for March (date contingent on quorum).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Madison County Comm 02-26-25","oneSentenceSummary","At its March meeting the Madison County Commission approved a range of routine contracts, facility agreements, travel requests, vendor renewals, bid awards and budget adjustments; notable actions included adoption of the amended sheriff compensation resolution and several courthouse and sheriff's‑office remodel procurements.","taxTitle","Madison County, Alabama","taxId",2533,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6300552,"Madison County Commission approves amended pay plan for sheriff after hour-long debate",3694,923000,4617000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2492945-aff4a703a880385a11c8f597c41e2576&start=923&end=4617","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2492945-aff4a703a880385a11c8f597c41e2576/thumbnail_923000.jpg","/articles/6300552/Madison-County/Alabama/Madison-County-Commission-approves-amended-pay-plan-for-sheriff-after-hour-long-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300552-74448bddb6b749c3f66826c2d005c526/orig.mp4?Expires=1771035766&Signature=Qw-vqnYG2bPhPxr6PPOFLwgI5paehVt3ug29UDQ3bx3XK8Dk2sXbP3qcdviEIC4JtYV68QFSjISzuNdzP3eAmviodoUnl2qeER1r9gdu0KJ1eFYGmqOK0z59Z86liU2Jsi5hCiM9ZvvP6VQjkmuIwYQigAlml1NQlxZDMp5CuAbxjF7e7fztGHqj5OMhlqcbhnktUTetWI8KtBeMOsX7m96mBnziXIWpy-nN2IGm4Mvq3sF3vDHtrIauHUxykW~MuFJ9zpmm7HuUxxRaq1LIwQedOnS3Vmrw8~3N0MrOPvBNcBnMdXiYZA0pbxXSNiW2KKLd3iQ~FThdJwgVh7ElOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Madison County Commission voted to send a resolution to the Alabama Legislature requesting an increase in the compensation for the Madison County sheriff after more than an hour of questions and debate and a formal amendment to the proposed pay schedule.

The item before the commission grew out of a county pay study. Sheriff Kevin Turner told commissioners the study compared Madison County to larger Alabama counties and recommended raising the sheriff’s pay to better align the office with similar jurisdictions. “This is not anything that is a pay raise for Kevin Turner — this is a pay raise for the office of Sheriff of Madison County,” Turner said, arguing the office now manages a large, 24/7 jail and expanded patrol responsibilities.

Commissioners pressed for context, fairness and a broader review. Some members said they were comfortable supporting a sheriff increase only if the commission simultaneously pursued a compensation study for other countywide elected officials (probate judge, tax assessor, tax collector, license commissioner and others). The commission amended the original resolution to set a $170,000 starting salary and to add a 7.5% salary increase for each successive full four‑year term (crediting the current sheriff for past service). The amended resolution also directs the commission to make a good‑faith effort to evaluate other elected positions funded by Madison County and, where appropriate, present legislative adjustments during the current legislative session.

Supporters cited the sheriff’s expanded responsibilities and the county jail population. Commissioners and the sheriff noted the jail average has risen to about 1,100–1,200 inmates on a daily basis; Sheriff Turner said his office processed more than 14,000 inmate bookings last year and answered “over 30,000 plus calls for service” on patrol. A commissioner who reviewed the pay‑study figures said the average of five comparison sheriffs was about $207,800.

Opponents and cautious members said they did not want to single out one elected office without comparable information for others. The probate judge, Frank Barger, sent a written request read into the record asking why the same study had not been done for other countywide elected officials and asking that the commission treat those positions consistently. Commissioners pledged to try to accelerate a countywide compensation review; staff said they would prioritize that work but cautioned about the timeline given legislative session deadlines.

Procedure and vote: after debate, Commissioner Vandiver moved to amend the resolution to set a $170,000 base salary with 7.5% successive‑term increases and to require a good‑faith effort to evaluate other elected officials during the legislative session; Commissioner Edwards seconded the amendment. The amendment passed with one commissioner recorded as opposed. The commission then voted to adopt the resolution as amended; staff said they would draft and circulate final language reflecting the amendment for confirmation.

Jeff (staff) said he would draft a replacement resolution that captured the commission’s amended parameters and circulate it for review. The adopted resolution does not itself change payroll; the county is directing the legislative delegation to pursue statutory authority to set the sheriff’s compensation under state law.

Next steps: the commission will transmit the approved, amended resolution to the county’s legislative delegation for drafting and consideration in Montgomery; commissioners also instructed county staff to begin or accelerate a compensation review for other county elected offices and to report back on how quickly that study can be completed and whether any findings can be presented during the current legislative session.

Ending: Commissioners emphasized public‑safety staffing needs and fiscal responsibility to taxpayers while agreeing to pursue a countywide compensation review. The resolution as amended was adopted and will proceed to the legislative delegation for consideration.","After an extended discussion and an amendment tying raises to successive full terms, the Madison County Commission voted to request the state legislature increase the sheriff’s compensation; commissioners also committed to pursue compensation reviews for other county elected officials.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Madison County Commission approves contracts, travel requests and budget adjustments

Madison County Commission approves amended pay plan for sheriff after hour-long debate