Madison County citizens can expect better and faster service in the event of a medical crisis with the long-awaited addition of a third ambulance crew to the Madison County Emergency Medical Service (EMS).

The Huntsville City Council on Monday authorized Mayor Travis Dotson to pursue a line of credit in the amount of $580,000 to purchase two pieces of property from Charles Coger and Lois Jean Coger totaling $350,000, of which Dotson said the city will be reimbursed $200,000 by the Huntsville Airport Commission.

Madison County Sheriff Ronnie Boyd, left, and Madison County Judge Larry Garrett meet Tuesday morning in front of the blueprints for the new Madison County Sheriff’s Office and Jail which is located on 19.22 acres behind the Arkansas Department of Transportation off of Highway 412B East.

As the result of an agreement with the Madison County Quorum Court to purchase a new roll-off truck, fees have been increased at the Recycling Transfer Station in Huntsville and a station in Kingston closed in order to make the Solid Waste Department profitable. Even though County Judge Larry Garrett said he would like to find a way to re-open the Kingston station, he expects the station to close permanently on Saturday.

A coalition floating the idea of making federal lands near the Buffalo National River a national park preserve says the designation would make the area the “most active-use National Park in the country for outdoor recreation.”

The City of Huntsville is “executing a demeanor of patience” toward the company responsible for the delay of delivery of a new fire engine purchased in 2021, said Mayor Travis Dotson.

Madison County Judge Larry Garrett informed the quorum court Monday night that bonds for the jail project will be sold on Oct. 31 and he will be ready to sign contracts on Nov. 1.

Madison County Judge Larry Garrett spoke as a special guest before the Huntsville City Council Monday night on the possibility of the city waiving building permit fees for the new county jail.

The Madison County Quorum Court on Monday approved one-time bonuses for employees of the sheriff’s office, but said discussions about raises would have to wait until justices of the peace know more about the 2024 budget.

The Huntsville City Council on Monday approved a two-year intra-agency agreement with the Huntsville School District to provide two School Resource Officers, after last month’s announcement by Madison County Sheriff Ronnie Boyd that his agency would no longer be providing SROs due to a lack of manpower.

The Madison County Quorum Court on Monday rejected a proposal to give bonuses to deputies and dispatchers/jailers at the sheriff’s office, in favor of discussing the issue through a committee formed by County Judge Larry Garrett.

An official with Rausch Coleman Homes said the company is making repairs to houses built in Huntsville, if needed, although the president of the Property Owners Association at Cedar Bluff Subdivision said many issues are not being resolved by the company.