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Administration

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1. Does the city manager have specified office hours?

Manager Nunn maintains an open-door policy. If you have a compliment or a concern, call (706) 342-1251 for an appointment or drop by to visit with him when he is in his office, located at 132 North Main Street.

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Animal Control

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1. Do I have to get a pet license?

Yes, for dogs. Even if your dog stays in the house or never leaves the yard, a license is required each year. Having a license shows that a dog has a current rabies vaccination. A license also helps us find an owner when a pet wanders away from home. To get a license, come by City Hall at 132 North Main Street, or use Online Services to apply and the license and tag will be mailed to you. You will need a copy of the current rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian good for at least one year. Online Services

2. Is there a local leash law?

No, and yes. Dogs do not have to be leashed if the dog is trained to always respond to your verbal commands and remains within your eyesight and immediate physical control. However, there are two public spaces in the City where a dog needs a leash:

• In the City Cemetery (an active burial ground), dogs must be leashed at all times to avoid making cemetery visitors uncomfortable, being disrespectful of graves, or breaking older headstones.


• In Town Park (a outdoor event facility), dogs must be leashed at all times and are limited to the pavement to avoid making park users uncomfortable and to avoid poop in grassy areas where bare feet and blankets are regularly invited.

3. Is there a barking or excessive noise ordinance?

Yes. An owner cannot allow an animal to bark, whine, howl, or cause other objectionable noise on a regular basis that disturbs a neighbor inside their home. If you have a concern about a serious annoyance in your neighborhood, you may file a complaint at Request Service.

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Business Services

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1. Where did my garage / yard sale sign go?

Garage or yard sale signs placed on any trees, street signs, power poles, along city streets, etc. are not permitted. Such signs on public property are removed and disposed of immediately.

If a sign was removed from private property where you obtained permission of the property owner to place the sign, please contact City Hall at (706) 342-1251 x227.

2. How much will my business license cost?

The cost of the license is determined by your number of employees and business location. You should have this information ready when submitting the application.

3. How long will it take to get my business license?

Most licenses can be processed in a week. Please make sure to schedule your certificate of occupancy inspection as soon as possible since this can cause a delay in your license.

4. May I operate a business out of my home?

Certain businesses may be approved as home occupations. You must have approval from the Planning Department to obtain a occupational tax certificate and legally operate a business out of your home. Planning Department

5. What are secure and verifiable documents?

The Attorney General of Georgia establishes and annually reviews the list of such documents. For the current list of acceptable secure and verifiable documents: Fact Sheet

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Cemetery Stewardship

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1. How can the cemetery be used?

Madison Historic Cemeteries include active burial grounds. To ensure respectful use as well as protection of the largest historic site in Madison, there is a Cemetery Policy Handbook. The handbook provides for the protection of the burial grounds, traditions, and monuments, and applies to all lot owners and to every visitor of the cemeteries. Cemetery Policy Handbook

2. Can I purchase a cemetery plot?

The Madison Historic Cemeteries are under the administration of the City Manager, who is the contact for locating a grave site and making burial arrangements. The City Clerk is charged with selling and recording cemetery plots in the two active cemeteries, Fairview Cemetery and Madison Memorial Cemetery. No plots are available for purchase in the Old Cemetery or the New Cemetery.

3. Is there a history tour for the cemetery?

Yes, the Cemetery Stewardship Commission printed an initial self-guided Walking Tour for the Madison Historic Cemeteries in 1995. Over the past five years, a lot of research has been gathered to update the brochure, which is expected to be published by the end of 2012. Self-Guided Walking Tour

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City Clerk

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1. When and where are the meetings of the mayor and City Council held?

Currently, meetings are held in the Municipal Building, located at 1501 Fairgrounds Road, in Madison, Georgia. Regular meetings are scheduled for the second and fourth Monday of each month at 5:30 pm. Meetings are open to the public. All agendas are available in advance and include an opportunity for brief public comment.

2. How can I get on the agenda?

If you would like to make a presentation or have more than a brief public comment, please contact the city clerk at (706) 342-1251.

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Corridor Management

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1. What is a certificate of appropriateness (COA)?

A certificate of appropriateness (COA) is the official approval and authorization to proceed with a proposed material change within the Corridor Design Overlay District. Upon approval, a COA is issued and design review is complete. Then, applicants proceed to plan review where full sets of plans are checked for building code compliance, engineering, fire, utilities, etc.

2. Does the Corridor Design Commission apply historic standards?

Yes, and no. The Corridor Design Commission is charged with promoting and protecting small town character when reviewing site and building plans outside of the Historic Preservation Overlay District. Proposals that reference local architecture in scale, form, and materials are far more likely to be successful.

The board applies its design standards (Zoning Ordinance, Section 642) and generally uses the historic standards as a reference.

3. What do I include for my Corridor Design Commission Certificate of Appropriateness application?

For new construction, there are two public presentations and hearings.

For conceptual review, a preliminary site plan addressing impervious surfaces (access, parking, impervious surface ratio) and pervious surfaces (landscape, perimeter, islands, stormwater facitilites) and a front elevation or photographs of a proposed structure will be sufficient.

For final review, a site plan, landscape plan with lighting plan, and all elevations are required.

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Downtown Development

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1. Where is the DDA jurisdiction?

The Downtown Development Authority is authorized to work within an area designated by the Mayor & Council as the Downtown Development Area. The boundaries of this area are almost co-terminus with the Downtown Madison's Special Tax District, also known as the Central Business District Special Tax District (CBD-STD). DDA Map

2. Are there any downtown special tax districts (STDs, BIDs, TADs)?

Yes, there is a special tax district for Downtown Madison, the Central Business District Special Tax District (CBD-STD), established to offset the expenses for downtown improvements. The CBD-STD is the service delivery area for the Madison Main Street program, and its boundaries are almost co-terminus with those of the DDA.

Madison has another special tax district out at the General Commercial Corridor, the Interstate 20 (I20-STD), established to offset the cost of Interchange lighting in order to attract night customers and travelers. CBD-STD Map

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Finance

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1. What is a fiscal year?

A fiscal year is a 12-month operating cycle that comprises a budget and financial reporting period. The City of Madison’s fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30.

2. What is the budget?

A budget is a financial plan for a city. It includes both estimates of resources available, including revenues and fund balance, and appropriations (the authority to spend money for specific purposes). The budget document is prepared to provide information about the city, both financial information and operational / policy information from a variety of perspectives and degrees of detail.

3. What is a millage rate?

A millage rate is a number, sometimes referred to as a multiplier. It is the number multiplied by the value of your property to calculate your property tax bill (please note: property value is determined by Morgan County). One mill is $1 of tax on every $1,000 of taxable property value. When the city adopts its annual budget, it determines the minimum millage rate neccessary to multiply against the entire tax base (value of all taxable properties in the city) in order to generate the necessary revenue to fund the proposed budget (after other revenue sources are taken into consideration).

The millage rate for the City of Madison for 2010 was 4.794, or $4.794 per $1,000 of taxable value.

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Fire

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1. How do I obtain a burn permit?

If you live inside the city limits of Madison, call the Madison Fire Station at (706) 342-1256 the day of the burn. You will be issued a permit good for that day only if burning is allowed. Madison does have some restrictions on what and where items can be burned.

If you live anywhere else in the county, call Georgia Forestry at (706) 343-5869.

2. How do I become a volunteer firefighter?

You will first need to come by the fire office, located at 160 North Main Street, and pick up an application and fill it out. Once it is returned, it will be reviewed by the chief. If there are openings, it will go to the officers for approval. If no openings are available, applicants will be contacted in the order their applications were received.

3. How do I obtain a copy of a fire report?

Basic fire reports are available 24 hours after the incident. Call the fire office at (706) 342-1256 and a copy will be made and available for pick-up at your convenience.

If a fire is being investigated, the final report could be delayed as long as it takes to complete the investigation. State reports are available 30 days after the incident.

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Historic Preservation

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1. Can I get a copy of Madison's preservation design standards?

Yes. The Madison Historic Preservation Commission uses both national and local design standards. The Madison Historic Preservation Manual, as well as the Design Criteria, are available online. The Madison Preservation Manual, reprinted in 2001, is also available for $20 by contacting (706) 342-1251 x207. More about HPC Design Review

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Planning

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1. Does Morgan County regulate the zoning in the municipalities?

No, each of the four municipalities in Morgan County has its own zoning regulations. The inverse is also true - the City of Madison does not regulate zoning in Morgan County and can not answer questions about Morgan County’s zoning regulations. You may either visit our offices at 132 North Main Street or call (706) 342-1251 ext. 226 if you are uncertain as to whether your property is located in the City of Madison’s jurisdiction. When asking for free zoning verification, please assist us by having the street address and/or tax parcel of the property.

2. How is a piece of property zoned?

The Planning and Zoning Office maintains the City of Madison's official zoning map. An unofficial copy is updated regularly and is on display in the Main Street and Planning offices at City Hall, and the official signed copy is held by the city clerk. You may either visit our offices or call (706) 342-1251 ext. 226 to find out what a parcel of land is zoned. When asking for free zoning verification, please assist us by having the street address and/or tax parcel number of the property.

3. How do I get a plat approved?

All plats for properties in the City of Madison are to be reviewed and signed by this office. We encourage you to take advantage of our free courtesy review by bringing your plat (i.e., survey, boundary survey, lot split, recombination plat) to receive comments within 24 hours, or if possible, while you wait.

For plat review, please bring four original signed copies (maximum size - 11 inches by 17 inches) for review and recording purposes. There is no charge for plat review if the plat creates no new buildable lots of record. [Note: Bring additional copies if you would like signed copies for yourself.] Once a plat is approved, please take the plat to the Morgan County Building Inspection Office and then record it with the clerk of Superior Court. For recording fees, please check with Morgan County at (706) 342-3605.

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Police

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1. What do I do about a traffic ticket that I received from the Madison Police Department?

Follow the instructions provided on the red supplement card given to you by the officer from whom you received your ticket. For further answers, please contact the Municipal Court clerk at (706) 342-2058.

2. Where can I get a copy of an accident or police report?

Reports can be obtained at the Madison Police Station at 118 North Main Street. For answers regarding police reports, contact the records clerk at (706) 342-1275.

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Special Projects

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1. Can I use the city's logo?

Please contact Ann Huff at (706) 342-1251 ext. 206 for the limitations and policy regarding use of the municipal logo.

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Street & Sanitation

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1. What day is my garbage service?

Normal household garbage service is divided into four routes and four days. Please reference this map to determine your service day: Household Garbage Service Areas

2. How do I report that the garbage truck missed my house?

To report missed garbage pickups, please contact City Hall at (706) 342-1251 x201.

3. How does garbage service work on a holiday?

Service shifts slightly when a city holiday falls: on a Monday (T-F); on a Tuesday
(M and W-F); on a Thursday, (M-W and F); on a Friday, (M-R).

[For example, if the holiday falls on a Monday - normal Monday customers shift to Tuesday, normal Tuesday customers shift to Wednesday, and Thursday and Friday customers will be served as usual.]
Holiday Schedule I
Holiday Schedule II
About Garbage Service

4. How do I get/replace my recycling bin?

Residents may obtain a recycling bin free of charge at City Hall, 132 N. Main Street, during regular business hours Monday-Friday, 8:00-5:00 pm.

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Urban Redevelopment

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1. What is a URA and a URP?

A URA is a Urban Redevelopment Area, an area designated in the community for extra concentration of community services, programs, and improvements to relieve slum and blight conditions and bring renewal opportunities. A URP is a Urban Redevelopment Plan, the plan adopted and implemented to address the URA.

2. Does Madison have a URA and URP?

Yes, Madison adopted its first URA in April 2011. Two areas of disinvestment identified in the 2009 Comprehensive Plan Update were included as part of a larger overall area. This URA is officially known as the Downtown Urban Redevelopment Area (DURA). More about the DURA

3. What is an Opportunity Zone?

An opportunity zone is a special designation by the state which incentivizes job creation through the use of an existing job tax credit program. The OZ as approved:

> Applies to commercial, professional, and industrial areas in the DURA
> Offers a maximum job tax credit allowed under law - $3,500 per job created
> Requires a minimum job creation threshold of any job tax credit program – 2 jobs
> Allows use of job tax credits for 100% of income tax liability and withholding
> Expands the definition of “business enterprise” to include all businesses of any nature

Using this tool, Madison ensures that the best available package of State incentives is available to both new and expanding businesses, thereby encouraging economic development and redevelopment in the targeted area and that the city will remain competitive with surrounding communities.

All About Our Opportunity Zones

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Utility Department

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1. How much is the utility tap fee?

It depends on the property's land use. Please see the current Schedule of Fees via the following link. Schedule of Fees

2. Where do I pay my utility bill?

You now have four options:

• Pay online for quick and convenient service (no convenience fee charged).
  
• Use our Automobile Drop Box located in the middle of the Hancock Street behind the U.S. Post Office (It's the GREEN one!).
• Use our Pedestrian Drop Box located on the front door of City Hall, at 132 North Main Street.
• As always, the ladies at our Front Counter at City Hall are always available to take your payment in person.
Online Payments

3. How much is my bill?

If you did not receive your bill, you are still responsible for payment for any water used. Please contact City Hall at (706) 342-1251.