Latest news with #MadisonCountyCommission
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Armed Forces Celebration kicks off after proclamation signing in Madison County
MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — A proclamation signing Monday morning officially kicked off the two-week-long Armed Forces Celebration in Madison County. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley and Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon all signed the proclamation recognizing June 1 through June 14 as the Armed Forces Celebration in the area. 'A chaotic mess': Vietnam Veterans reflect on war after 50 years 'It is an honor for me to be able to sign this proclamation here on behalf of the residents in Madison County,' McCutcheon said at the ceremony. 'Thank you to our military for what they do for us, not only here in Madison County, but in our country as a whole.' Key national military initiatives happen right in Madison County, making the area one of the largest armed forces populations in the state. 'When they need something, they call area code 256,' Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Military Affairs Committee Chair and Retired U.S. Army Major General Jim Myles said. 'The sacrifices and also what we do to protect our country is a national treasure.' Because of that large population, county officials find it fitting and necessary to hold two weeks full of events in their honor and to thank them. 'You're not a patient, you're a resident': State veteran-only nursing home provides resources, benefits 'Now we have this event where we're recognizing people on the Arsenal that are doing so much for our country,' Myles said. 'And it's about the community saying 'we know who you are and we appreciate who you are'.' U.S. Army Major General and U.S. Army Materiel Command Chief of Staff Kevin Meisler said those community connections are what encourage them and keep them going. 'When you have the support of the community around you, it makes you energized,' Meisler said. 'It gets you out there. You feel like 'hey, I could do anything'…I've never been to a community that's been more military-friendly in the entire world. I'm honestly truly honored to live in this area.' County leaders planned a plethora of events, catering to a wide range of interests and community involvement spanning the two-week period. MONDAY, June 2: Proclamation Signing, Veterans Memorial, 8 a.m. WEDNESDAY, June 4: Armed Forces Celebration Luncheon, VBC Saturn Ballroom, 12 p.m. THURSDAY, June 5: Team Redstone vs. Community Leaders Softball Game, Toyota Field, 6 p.m. THURSDAY, June 5: Business After Hours at Softball Game, Toyota Field, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. FRIDAY, June 6: Military Appreciation Night at Huntsville City FC, Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium, game starts at 7 p.m. SATURDAY, June 7: U.S. Army Birthday Celebration, Redstone Gateway, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. MONDAY, June 9: Concert in the Park and Fireworks, Big Spring Park, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. THURSDAY, June 12: Department of the Army Civilian Dinner, Jackson Center, 6 p.m. SATURDAY, June 14: AUSA Army 250th Birthday Ball, U.S. Space & Rocket Center Davidson Center, 6 p.m. While the county has hosted the Armed Forces Celebration for several years, it falls on the Army's 250th birthday during this year's events. Myles encourages everyone in the area to attend the events and celebrate alongside the Armed Forces personnel over the two weeks. 'It's not just coming out and saying, 'Thank you for your service, we appreciate it,'' Myles said. 'It's about coming and bringing your lawn chairs and sitting down in Big Spring Park, watching the music, and then watching the fireworks. Watch people jump out of airplanes and parachutes. And, it's about watching community leaders try to play softball against other people, trying to beat them a little bit, but having fun; recognizing all of us coming together.' For more details on the events or how to register, visit the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ditto Landing event venue project moving forward
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The event venue at Ditto Landing is one step closer to completion. During a Madison County Commission meeting on April 23, the commission awarded a contract to build the venue to Lee Builders. Huntsville woman gets home repairs through National Community Development Week Plans for the event venue were first announced back in October 2023. Madison County and Huntsville city leaders estimated the cost to be about $10 million. The project will include using the bones of the old State Docks building for the main event venue and building a secondary venue from scratch. Once completed, the main venue will be used for concerts, weddings and large events. The smaller venue will be used for a restaurant. District 5 Commissioner Phil Riddick said he is excited that the project is moving forward. 'Well, you know that's real exciting,' Riddick said. 'We've been talking about Ditto improvements for years down there and we have a master plan and this is apart of that master plan so the more activities that we can have down there, the more people we will draw to the river and we have a great resource down there just really excited to be able to expand and improve that facility down there.' Construction could start as early as June. If that timeline holds, construction could wrap up by October 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Madison County Commission reviews feasibility study for new courthouse
MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Madison County Commission held a special called work session Wednesday to discuss a feasibility study into the construction of a new courthouse. The study, done by the Matheny Goldmon Architecture firm, revealed four options that the commission could mull over when considering the construction of a new courthouse. The report was broken into nine sections. Huntsville PD warns drivers of road closures before Panoply Arts Festival It factored in population growth projections for the area until 2075, surveyed the departments that use the courthouse to understand their needs and considered the history of the county courthouse on the square. 'There was a lot of good information, especially the way they went about collecting all of the information and the data and putting it together,' Madison County Commission chairman Mac McCutcheon said. 'We were looking at long term, which we know we aren't just trying to fix something for the next 10 years. We are looking 50, 60 years out, which is what we should be doing.' McCutcheon said growth in the area and the financial situation that the county is in make now a good time to start talking about the project. The current courthouse opened in 1967. 'The need is there for sure,' McCutcheon said. 'As we look at it, the time is right for us to start this discussion.''It's not really efficient to build courthouses, but it's time,' District 3 commissioner Craig Hill said. Of the four options presented to the commission in the study, three of those would keep the criminal justice system and county administrative offices together. However, each of those options would have the courthouse in a different location. One of the options is to rebuild the new courthouse where the current courthouse stands, which would cost the county roughly $173.6 million. It would take around five years and two months to complete. During construction, the courts would move to another building to avoid delays in criminal proceedings. The second option presented to the commission would separate the criminal justice system and county administrative offices into two buildings. This option would cost the county roughly $153.2 million and would take six years to complete. It would also reduce construction on the square in downtown Huntsville to 28 months. Another option being considered would move the criminal justice system and county administrative offices together to 370 Fountain Circle, and that option would cost roughly $141.7 million. Huntsville woman gets home repairs through National Community Development Week The fourth option would be to find another piece of property within a quarter mile of the current courthouse and build a new one. The cost of this was estimated at $150.8 million, but a representative from Matheny Goldmon said it seems unlikely to find the right requirements for this option. 'The county is in very good shape,' McCutcheon said. 'This is a project that is possible. It's not just something that we are thinking well if we have the money. The money's available for us to move forward with a big project like this.' McCutcheon said the commission is factoring in the impacts that construction on the square would have when they are considering the options. 'The downtown area has changed over the last several years and we have people living downtown in apartment complexes, we've got businesses here on the square, a lot of pedestrian traffic,' McCutcheon said. 'We are looking at all of those things, what will be a good fit for our residents and this area moving forward.' LOOKING FOR THE EXTENDED FORECAST? Click here to learn how to download the Live Alert 19 app McCutcheon did not commit to which option he supports at this point but believes that the commission needs to do what's best for the county. 'I'm still processing and looking at all the information we have and that's why this information we received today and this report is so vital to me and all of our commissioners,' McCutcheon said. 'We need to take an objective look at this. This is not just something that one person wants personally, this is about what's best for the county.' The next step in the process would be to hire an owner's representative, which McCutcheon said the county is ready to do. The commission would then begin processing and discussing the information and work on the financing. After getting the owner's representative hired, the Commission would begin the bidding process for the project. McCutcheon said the hope is to have a design and be ready to move forward with a plan of action by 2027. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
