The state of the city is well. That's the report given by Madison Mayor Sonny Howell, who along with Chet Burgess, Madison's chief of police and new city manager, spoke to the Madison Rotary Club on January 25.

"We're doing well," the mayor said. "We're in much better shape financially than most other towns our size in West Virginia."

Mayor Howell announced plans to begin looking into the possibility of the city constructing a much needed parking building. If plans materialize, the structure will be built across from the Madison Civic Center. He also talked about the Hatfield-McCoy trails extending into the Madison area, a project that is expected to happen soon, and gave a review of other goals and projects for the city.

Chief Burgess echoed Howell's comments, adding, "The city and the police department are in good shape," and credited the Boone County Commission for their help. "The county commission has been good to us," he said.

In their efforts to keep the residents of Madison safe, Burgess said the Madison Police Department answered 1,800 calls in 2011, adding "That's an enormous amount of calls for a small town with a small police force."

The Madison City Council, made up of a group of dedicated citizens--two women, Carolyn Mullins and Renee Hager; and three men, Buddy Hudson, P. J. Johnson and Danny Warner, along with Recorder Jim Cooke, work with the mayor and city manager to keep the city's financial house in order. All are to be commended for their service to the Madison community.