Yard waste collection on agenda of next council meeting
The Decatur City Council will be discussing premium yard waste services being offered by the city’s garbage haulers at its next meeting on Monday, March 4. Residents are right to be concerned about the extremely large increase in the cost of premium yard waste collection. Paying $120 per year is a high price to pay, particularly when three months of unlimited yard waste pickup is already included in basic services, and one’s payment for garbage and recycling is on a monthly, or bi-monthly basis, as opposed to a lump sum payment. Residents should be even more upset by a proposed $5 per bag fee for yard waste that does not fit into a tote that one hauler is proposing. This fee is simply ridiculous. Do we really want our seniors lugging large, heavy totes across their lawns to pick-up wayward leaves, sticks, and grass clippings so that they avoid a $5 per bag fee?
In theory, allowing the free market and competition to establish the terms of premium yard waste collection was an excellent idea in what is a highly regulated industry. In practice, despite different business models, haulers came up with the same fee, and many haulers will not provide yard waste service to individuals in areas that receive garbage and recycling services from a different hauler.
$21 MILLION WATER LOAN TO BE DISCUSSED
The city council will consider borrowing up to $21 million from the Public Water Supply Loan Program administered by the IEPA at an interest rate of 1.81%. This loan would be used to make electrical improvements to the South Water Treatment Plant. The city has yet to spend any of the $25 million water/sewer bond proceeds it recently received. While the terms of this bond were favorable to the city, the city council decided to spend millions of dollars of American Rescue Plan Act funding on water projects that could have been spent through the bond. The impact of this decision will likely be seen beginning in 2025 when ARP funds for neighborhood revitalization are depleted, and there is no funding source to replace it. Community revitalization is the city council’s number one priority, but as it pertains to spending, $46 million of debt issued to water the past couple of years tells a different story of where the city’s priorities really are.
AGREEMENT WITH MACON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT FOR CONTROLLED BURNING
The city council will likely approve an agreement with the conservation district that would allow their personnel to assist with controlled burning including at the Oakley Sediment Basin. This is a great example of intergovernmental cooperation.
A more important initiative is to use the Oakley Sediment Basin in a way that meets the greatest needs of our residents. The Oakley Sediment Basin has the potential to generate a substantial amount of solar power for Decatur homes and businesses. A public open house is being hosted by Ameren on the evening of Monday, March 4 to discuss its future plans. It will be important for Ameren to demonstrate what specific renewable energy projects it has planned for the city of Decatur, and how it is working with Decatur residents to increase the use of renewable energy. I am unaware of any Decatur project with greater potential to help meet state renewable energy objectives and give greater access to green energy to Decatur residents than a solar farm at the Oakley Sediment Basin.
PLEASE EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The next city council meeting will take place on Monday, March 4 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. Citizens are allotted 3 minutes per person near the beginning of each city council meeting. In addition, citizens can provide comments regarding one regular agenda item per meeting for up to three minutes provided they notify the city in advance (and prior to the start of the meeting). You can request to speak on a particular agenda item at a council meeting by filling out an on-line form at: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/advance-request-to-speak-at-council-meeting/.
AGENDAS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE
An agenda and information about each agenda item for each city council meeting can be found at: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/.
CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
If you would like to discuss city issues with a council member, phone numbers and email addresses for each council member can be found at the following link: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council/.