Rhodes-Conway will honor Judge Doyle Square contract, vague on providing funding for more ambulances

9 new alders coming to Common Council

Rose Schmidt by Rose Schmidt

Madison Mayor-elect Satya Rhodes-Conway, who is set to be sworn in Tuesday, is responding to questions about some of her plans, including for the Judge Doyle Square project and funding for the police and fire departments.

Rhodes-Conway previously told News 3 Now that if she were elected as mayor, she would likely cut ties with Beitler Real Estate, the vendor in the troubled Judge Doyle Square project downtown Madison.

However, when News 3 Now asked Thursday whether she would cut ties with Beitler, the mayor-elect said, “We have a contract for the Block 105, and I’m not in the habit of breaking contracts.”

Common Council President Samba Baldeh said many changes will be coming to the council with a new mayor and nine new alders. However, that might make it easier to continue with the Judge Doyle Square project.

“I do think we will find a way to move the project forward — either with the current vendor or another vendor,” said Baldeh.

But even with a new council makeup, many of the issues remain the same.

Rhodes-Conway had a media availability Thursday at a fire district on the west side after having lunch with firefighters and emergency medical crews.

She said next Wednesday her office will release a letter with budget instructions for departments like fire and police. She’s asking them to describe how their goals align with Imagine Madison, the city’s comprehensive plan.

“We’ll be evaluating all budget requests in relationship to those goals, and we’ll move on from there,” Rhodes-Conway said.

Rhodes-Conway, who said she has met with most council members, planned to meet with Madison Fire Chief Steven Davis Thursday and said she knew the department could use additional ambulances. However, she said it was too premature to say whether the department would get funding for ambulance services.

Alder Michael Tierney, who represents District 16 on the city’s far east side north of McFarland, said providing funding for ambulances is his biggest priority going forward under the new mayor.

“There’s a pressing need,” he said.

Tierney said there are neighborhoods north of Siggelkow Road in the northern part of his district with fire response times of up to 20 minutes and times when all eight ambulances are out on calls at the same time.

Baldeh agreed it’s a priority for the council and said it’s an area where he believes council members will be able to find common ground.

“Public safety is key. Providing services in terms of ambulances and fire services is also key. These are a big chunk of the budget,” Baldeh said.

Alder Paul Skidmore from District 9, who describes himself as being “pro-police,” said he hopes Rhodes-Conway maintains a focus on public safety.

“I think the previous mayor did as much as he could,” Skidmore said.

He is urging Rhodes-Conway not to cut police staff members and “use her influence as mayor” to convince the Madison Metropolitan School Board to keep educational resource officers in the schools.

Skidmore said he supports the mayor-elect’s affordable housing and rapid transit goals but questions how they will be funded.

Get your weather forecast from people who actually live in your community. We update with short, easy-to-use video forecasts you can watch on your phone every day. Download the iOS or Android app here.

COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.