Madison issues bonds for city hall, roads

MADISON — Aldermen approved a resolution last week to issue $10 million in general obligation bonds to fund construction of the new city hall and other public improvements. 

Nearly half of the bond money — $4 million — will be used to finish renovation of the new city hall located in the old Madison-Ridgeland High School on Main Street. 

“The renovation to the old school for city hall is a dream come true,” Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler said. 

The renovations on the project, which began in March 2021, are nearly complete. The building is behind the old gym, which currently serves as Madison’s Performing Arts Center. 

The high school was built around 1910 and is one of the oldest landmarks in the city, also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The city will also use $1.775 million for street repairs and $1.6 million the city’s match from three-laning Hoy Road. 

Liberty Park will receive $750,000, with $500,000 of that going towards upgrades to Liberty Village and $250,000 for renovations to the dugouts, concession stand and press box. 

“We are looking forward to the improvements to Liberty Park,” Hawkins-Butler said. “Our children will be excited to see the new splash pad as well as the beautiful improvements.”

The city plans to use $700,000 from the bond proceeds for work at Cypress Lake and $500,000 for renovations to Fire Station #3. Lastly, the city budgeted $120,000 for a new roof for Webster Animal Shelter. 

The 20-year bonds will carry an interest rate of 3.616 percent.