Ashley Hunter
Greene Publishing, Inc.
During the Tuesday, Aug. 9 meeting of the city commission, various citizens attended with requests or concerns that they desired the commissioners to handle.
Opening the citizen participation forum was Amy English, the sister of the City of Madison's former Public Works Director Ricky Hudson.
On Monday, July 25, a capias for Hudson's arrest was issued and executed on suspicion of charges of grand theft, as there was concerning billing activity that pointed directly to Hudson. As a direct cause of those suspicions, Hudson's employment with the city was terminated.
English came to the city to plead her brother's case and request that he be rehired without judgement.
On behalf of Hudson, English read a letter that her brother had written to the commissioners.
Within the letter, Hudson stated that he was requesting an appeal of termination and that his employment and evaluation records had shown him to be an outstanding and loyal employee to the city for six years.
“I have taken pride in a place that has let me be [a] supervisor, run my department to the best of my ability and oversee many of the projects that have been completed within the city during the last six years,” Hudson wrote. In addition, Hudson advised that he had bought a home in the city to be closer to his work and had he known that his employment would have been terminated at the first suspicion of wrong-doing, he would have stayed in his old home that was paid off.
“I have seen a lot of good in the city within the last six years,” wrote Hudson, “but I have also seen practices that seem unfair and should have been looked into more closely by the city commission.”
Continuing with that thought, Hudson's letter accused the current practices of City Manager Tim Bennett of having “run off” various loyal and valuable employees of the city. Hudson also claimed that Bennett's practices had been the result of various law suits against the city; in new employees being given better pay than long-time employees; and employees who had been terminated after committing multiple offenses being rehired, than terminating faithful employees after only one minor offense with no promise of rehiring them.
“I would not have done anything to jeopardize my career with the city,” wrote Hudson. “I have built my life around this job. I am not guilty of the accusations brought against me and would appreciate the opportunity to finish out my career with the city by having my termination reversed.”
Hudson requested, should the commissioners choose to rehire him, that he would be allowed to continue to do his job without being treated negatively or being micromanaged by the city manager.
Through English, Hudson also advised that he had submitted an appeal letter to the city three weeks earlier, but had been told that it was never received.
City Manager Tim Bennett responded, saying that the letter had been received, but Hudson had verbally communicated that he had no interest in going through an appeal.
“[Hudson] was an outstanding employee, no doubt; we trusted him immensely,” said Bennett, adding that after discovering the fraudulent invoices, the city was forced to take action.
City Attorney Clay Schnitker requested that, should Hudson indeed wish to go through with an appeal of termination, he needed to clarify it by sending in a letter to the city clerk.
Also speaking on Hudson's behalf was Jorge Torralbas, who came to the podium to remind the commissioners that, until Hudson has been charged guilty by a court of law, he is still to be considered not guilty. “Ricky Hudson was an outstanding worker,” said Torralbas. “He was prematurely fired.” Hudson will be facing a formal court arrangement on Thursday, Sept. 1.
With another form of complaint, Phillip and Shelia Combs came to the podium during citizen participation with a heavy request. The Combs are residents of Madison, who live in their home that is located on Haynes St.
“We came here today with concerns regarding the busyness of the intersection behind our house, which is Livingston and Washington St.,” said Phillip. The couple has been to city commission meetings in the past regarding the noise level of traffic, and while the noise has not been removed, Phillip Combs did thank the commissioners for the attempts they have made at seeing that it is controlled. Their concerns now were not the noise, but rather the amount of vehicle incidents that take place at, or near, that intersection.
Two of the most recent crashes involved a Senior Citizens Center shuttle bus that crashed through a light pole and into a shed and deck that belonged to the ombs, causing substantial damage. Another incident was the collision of two vehicles on Friday, Aug. 5 that resulted in the death of driver Bobbi Jean Light. Both crashes took place either directly on or around the Combs' property.
“We are concerned about our vulnerability at that intersection,” said Combs. “There are no barriers, no reflectors, [and] there’s not a caution light at that intersection; there’s really nothing to tell people to slow down.”
According to Combs, there are multiple factors that play into the reduced safety of the intersection, including a steep hill that is followed by a tight curve; Combs' home sits right behind the curve. Without any traffic control, the Combs are concerned about their safety, and the safety of their five-year-old grandson. They have observed multiple near-misses, and according to Phillip Combs, they have been on edge as a result.
Shelia Combs spoke in deep concern about the safety of their visiting grandson. “I want my grandson to run in the yard and play,” said Shelia Combs. “He can't enjoy [being] outside because it is not safe for him.” Shelia herself has observed multiple vehicles not slowing down in enough time, and tearing down city signs or rooting up the grass of their yard.
“I don't know what can be done for the situation,” said Phillip Combs. “We are [just] hoping something can be done.”
The city manager advised that the city can make a request for a warrant study from the Department of Transportation in order to see what can be done to control the traffic between that stretch of roadway. The city itself does not own those roads, but they could request a warrant study free of charge. The commissioners agreed to go through with the city manager's suggestion.
“We would appreciate any effort,” said Phillip Combs.
The Madison city commission meets once a month, on the second Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., in City Hall, which is located at 321 SW Rutledge St. Beginning each meeting, commissioners open the floor to the citizens who have signed in to address the commissioners with their complaints; all members of the public are invited to attend.