Community revitalization and budget update focus of Decatur City Council study session
A financial update and information from the Economic & Community Development Department will be provided to the city council during a study session to be held on June 30 at 5:30 PM. The city council and public were only provided with an agenda for the study session with no supporting documentation. Thus, it is unclear what information city staff will present. No Treasurer’s Report for the month of May was given to the city council as is traditionally done at the second meeting of June. Hopefully, we will at least receive the latest update on revenue and expenses.
For the first five months of the year, the council was not provided a Community & Economic Development report in February and the sections entitled “Neighborhood Revitalization Division” and “Neighborhood Inspection Division” of the May report were identical to the April report (i.e., the submitted report did not update the data from month to month including the number of health & safety violations, properties declared unfit for human habitation, nuisance violations, and structures that needed to be boarded up). This issue was brought up to the City Manager, but no reply was given. Thus, city council members have reason to question the accuracy of the information they are receiving from the city on its number one strategic priority.
Qualitatively, I have received more correspondence from residents concerned with issues in their neighborhoods the first six months of 2025 than any other six-month period that I can remember. From neighbors concerned about a drug house on their street to residents witnessing squatters enter houses that were boarded up, from groundhogs causing significant damage to their homes to residents burning trash threatening surrounding properties, citizens from throughout the city are expressing substantial concerns about where they live and their quality of life. This is why the data the city collects every two or three years on each neighborhood in the urban core including blight scores, equalized assessed value, and criminal activity is critical to decision making. It gives us a report card as to how much progress we have made, how much more work needs to be completed, and where are the best areas to focus on based on the funds available. Hopefully, the city staff will share the results of the latest data collection effort (the last data collection effort was approximately three years ago) at Monday’s meeting.
WHAT SHOULD THE DECATUR CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIZE THE NEXT TWO YEARS?
The Decatur City Council will be meeting on July 2 and July 3 for a goal setting session. Historically, these occur every two years shortly after the municipal election so that the newest members of the council can provide input. From my perspective, it is critical to hear from Decatur residents on what goals the city council should focus on prior to the goal setting session. What should the council priorities be: Lowering property taxes? Neighborhood revitalization? Workforce development? Greater collaboration between the city and school district to improve student outcomes? Your input is extremely valuable, and I would appreciate hearing your perspective.
PLEASE EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS AT STUDY SESSION
The Decatur City Council will hold a study session on community revitalization and the budget on Monday, June 30 at 5:30 PM in the council chambers located on the third floor of the Decatur Civic Center (1 Gary K. Anderson Place). Free parking is available in the lot immediately south of the entrance. Citizens are encouraged to attend meetings and express their views. At study sessions, citizens are allotted 3 minutes per person at the end of the meeting.
An agenda can be found at: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/. If you would like to discuss these topics with a council member, phone numbers and email addresses for each council member can be found at the following link: https://www.decaturil.gov/300/Mayor-Council.