MORGAN COUNTY
Frank Sinatra said New York is a “city that never sleeps,” but you could say with some certainty that Madison is a city that never rests, at least not on its laurels.
To that end, city leaders have entered into discussions with the Madison Post Office and the Smith Planning Group concerning possible upgrades to the landscaping around the post office building in downtown Madison.
Ben Proulx, of the Smith Planning Group and the vice chair of Madison’s Greenspace Commission, attended the Nov. 3 city council meeting and said Madison’s Chris Lambert – one of the city’s most well-known advocates and preservationists – had reached out to him about making the post office grounds look better.
Proulx looked into the possibility on a pro bono basis and worked up a proposal that was sent to post office representatives.
According to Proulx, federal rules governing post office expenses prevent receiving improvements to the grounds that would increase maintenance costs. However, Proulx said that if the city agreed to take on the maintenance of the grounds as part of the proposal, upgrades might be possible. The post office would retain ownership of the property.
According to a letter from Smith Planning Group to the post office that was attached to the Nov. 3 meeting agenda, “The City is willing to cover all legal fees in drafting and executing any proposed agreement and after approval from the USPS, would put such agreement forward to Mayor and Council for their approving vote.”
The property where the post office now sits has quite a history and was the site of the first Morgan County courthouse built, just after the city was founded in 1809.
That building was destroyed by fire in 1844.
Another courthouse, which was being used as a city hall, was destroyed by a fire in 1916 but the property was used as a park until the post office was built in 1931.
According to Proulx, the construction of the post office building was met with some resistance since Madisonians had grown accustomed to using the downtown park.
In the mid-1960s, UGA Landscape Architecture students conducted a study of the post office grounds and proposed several landscape improvements for the property.
Proulx said the hedge around the post office was planted in 1967.
In recent years, the Madison Post Office has considered moving some of its operations to a site that would be easier for large trucks to access, but city leaders have expressed interest in keeping the current facility where it is. Upgrades to the grounds could encourage post office officials to keep the downtown facility operating.
No cost estimates have yet been preferred, but Proulx and city leaders say a combination of public and private funds could be used since the upgrades to the property would have a positive impact on local businesses in the area, nearly all of which have expressed approval for the project.
Councilman Eric Joyce said he recently paid a visit to the post office grounds and was struck by two things, including how bad the property looks and how much space is there.
Ed Latham, the city’s liaison to the Downtown Development Authority, said the DDA endorses the proposal since it would enhance downtown as it is experienced by visitors.
Funding the project and the maintenance costs that follow, represent a complex decision for the city, especially since street department crews are stretched thin as it is.
CVB report
The council also heard from Jennifer Rosa León, the executive director of the Madison-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
León said state tourism reports from Explore Georgia indicate that Morgan County has had its best year ever regarding tourism spending.
During the 2022 calendar year, visitors spent $60.3 million in Morgan County, which represents a 20 percent increase from pre-pandemic numbers, León said.
Taxes collected from visitor spending generated $5.6 million, which is equivalent to about $768 in tax savings for each household in Morgan County.
León also said that the website http://visitmadisonga.com had its best year ever with 114,580 total visits from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. These totals also exceed pre-pandemic numbers.
Madison and Morgan County have also been mentioned in several media outlets during the previous fiscal year, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cooking with Paula Deen, Architectural Digest, Georgia Trend, and Southern Living.
Social media efforts have also produced positive results with an increase in Facebook followers that exceeded the goal of 12,550 to net 12,607 at the end of the fiscal year. Instagram followers also increased beyond the goal of 4,800 to a net of 5,028 followers.
The newly minted eNewsletter created by the CVB has increased its number of subscribers by 20 percent with 1,562 currently receiving the publication via email.
The 26-page destination guide called Small Town Charm Awaits in Historic Madison, GA established an ad sales goal of $14,500 and slightly exceeded that figure by selling $14,900 in advertising. This covers the cost of producing and distributing the publication.