MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) — Madison is welcoming new faces to city hall as Mayor Ranae Bartlett was swore in alongside an almost entirely new city council Monday night.
“All of us are feeling tremendous gratitude to this community that showed up to vote and elected us,” Bartlett said. “We are so ready to serve.”
Though she may be new to the mayor’s office, Bartlett has spent years serving Madison. She was elected to the city council in 2020, and before that, she spent ten years on the Madison Board of Education.
Of the seven city council members sworn in Monday, six are new to the position. The council’s senior most member, Maura Wroblewski, will serve as council president.
“There’s a lot of energy on this council, and I can’t wait to get to work with them,” Bartlett said.
Work has already begun. Bartlett told News 19 she and the council members have been preparing for their new roles.
“Mayor Findlay has been very gracious with his time, allowing me to meet with the department heads and understand the needs of the city on day one,” Bartlett said.
Madison is one of the state’s fastest growing cities, which often creates need for more infrastructure and investment. City leaders are preparing to tackle those needs.
A notable vote will take place in 2027, when a half cent sales tax is set to expire. The tax was initially put in place to fund the construction of James Clemens High School. While on the campaign trail, Bartlett said she was interested in extending the tax, saying she feels it is important to continue funding local education.
Bartlett said she expects the city’s future to be bright, especially if Madison’s citizens continue playing an active role in voting and attending city meetings.
The newly elected leaders in Madison are set to attend an orientation with the Alabama League of Municipalities this week, where they will be able to discuss issues facing municipal governments and receive legal, finance and ethics training.
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