By Ginger Jarvis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Madison’s Mayor Judy Townsend has been invited to join a group of 24 other cit leaders in Miami for a parachute event featuring the Golden Knights, an elite cadre of military parachutists. The invitation from the Pentagon was described by Rae Pike at the regular meeting of the Madison City Commissioners on Feb. 8.
Pike informed the board that Townsend is included in the jump as part of the follow-up to the city’s recent Military Covenant Signing Ceremony. The group jump is planned to help convince Miami city officials to sign a similar covenant to support servicemen and their families. Pike, who coordinated the local event, added that Gov. Rick Scott’s office has called to say that he wants to keep the momentum up.
“We are delighted to be the first city to sign a covenant under this governor’s administration,” said Commissioner Myra Valentine. “I thought the day was sensational. Now, Live Oak and Branford are considering doing this.”
Townsend commented, “If you missed the event, it was beautiful.” She presented the board with the certificate recognizing the occasion. When she expressed reluctance to participate in the jump, several other people jokingly volunteered to represent her in Miami.
Townsend and Pike explained that Congressman Ander Crenshaw, Senator Marco Rubio and Madison County School Board Chair VeEtta Hagan (all of them unable to attend the ceremony on Feb. 5) will sign the covenant; then the original will be on display at Madison City Hall.
In other business, the commissioners approved a proclamation declaring February as Black American Mayors’ Month. Townsend read a list of black residents who have served as mayor in Madison. “These people had the interests of the city and its people at heart,” she said.
The board also unanimously approved a new member of the Firefighters Pension Board. Jennifer Funk, owner of the Country Store on Range Avenue, will serve in that capacity.
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