A long-time concern of Madisonville residents, a controversy surrounding the property at 1118 Pine Street, owned by Nadine Hayes, was resolved at Wednesday night’s Town Council meeting.

Hayes had been unable to attend meetings to discuss the future of the property, but sent a letter consenting to the condemnation of the property and agreeing to demolish and remove the property within the next 120 days.

The Council accepted her letter and the matter has been settled. The Town Council also heard a report that the bulkhead should be finished in August.

In other property news, the Council approved a resolution that would give Mayor Peter Gitz authority to accept donation of now-vacant property located at 409 St. Ann Street to the city by the Road Home Corporation.  The home previously located there has been removed.

An ordinance was formally adopted for establishing the new water and sewer rates. A need to increase rates for water and sewer service in Madisonville lead to a unanimous vote by the town council last month to rate the rates and the deposits charged to those renting property.

Residents and business owners will face a $4 increase in water and a $6 increase in sewer totaling $10, beginning in August. In addition, the council voted to raise the deposit required for those renting property to $150 from $75.

Also, an ordinance was adopted accepted the amended budget on general fund and sales tax 1 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. The amendment was needed because of an overestimation of sales tax revenue for the year, said the Mayor.

The budget for the coming year in Madisonville was adopted last month unanimously by the town council with a minimum of fanfare and no comments from residents during the public hearing.

The three-pronged budget includes general fund expenditures of $840,150; a special revenue fund of $1,482,802; and an enterprise fund of $3,555,239.

The old library will also be donated to the city. Renovations included repairs to the foundation and other needed repairs. The city will receive the transfer of the property from the parish.

A fundraiser to benefit victims and businesses affected by the oil spill was approved by the Council. Kathy Valentine is organizing a poker run that will go through the city July 31, including some of the town’s restaurants.

Paul Jones of Jones Physical Therapy requested permission to hold a run from the ballpark to T Rivers and back that will benefit the Methodist Children’s Home and the Boy Scouts of America. Proceeds will be used to buy toys for the children at the home at Christmas. The Council unanimously the date of Nov. 20 from 8-10 a.m.

Michelle Vanderbrook from the Madisonville Chamber requested the date for the Christmas parade and Santa’s arrival on the river. Santa’s workshop will also take place the same day, Dec. 5, which was unanimously approved by the Council.

The Krewe of Tchefuncte reserved a new date for their ball and parade. Because the boat parade conflicted with the Bacchus parade in New Orleans, the Krewe felt it may attract more participants if the parade was moved up a week. This was also unanimously approved by the Council. The date for the ball will be Feb. 26 at Town Hall and the parade will be on the river at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, 2011.

The town is also planning a celebration for the 200th anniversary of the naming of the town in 2011. The town was not chartered until later, however, so the actual anniversary of the town is in question. Mayor Peter Gitz  was asked, “Were you Mayor then?” He replied, “Almost.”

Gitz said that any celebration would probably be in conjunction with or right before the Wooden Boat Festival in October 2011.