Decatur ordinance requiring registration of foreclosed and vacant properties tabled

The Decatur City Council met on Monday, May 18 at 5:30 PM.  Among the agenda items was a proposed ordinance that included a $4.5 million grant agreement with the Federal Transit Administration, the issuance of up to $34.4 million in general obligation bonds that will be used to refinance debt, and an ordinance that would require unmaintained properties to be registered and pay a semi-annual registration fee of $200. 

MANY ENTITIES HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED REGISTRATION OF VACANT AND FORECLOSED PROPERTIES AND THE ORDINANCE WAS TABLED

While there are merits to this ordinance including an ability to contact responsible parties when their property has code violations, in my view, the Decatur City Council correctly tabled the vote.  This will allow the council to reflect on the feedback it has received and revise the ordinance based on citizen input. 

CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS – If you would like to discuss an issue with a city council member, phone numbers and e-mail addresses for each council member can be found at the following link: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council/. 

AGENDAS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE - An agenda to each city council meeting can be found at: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/.  You can watch city council meetings on the city’s website or government channel 18.