Yard waste program, fate of a delipidated building, and new city manager highlight next city council meeting

Year-round yard waste collection for all residents, Decatur taxpayers spending $249,000 to remove asbestos from a building the city does not own, appointment of a new city manager, draining of the Oakley Sediment Basin, and the annexation of a large number of properties will be the focus of the Decatur City Council meeting on April 1. Below is more information about some of the topics to be discussed.?

ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY $3.25 PER MONTH FOR YEAR-ROUND, UNLIMITED YARD WASTE COLLECTION?

Two options for future yard waste collection will be considered by the city council.? The first option would apply to all garbage customers and would include unlimited weekly collection of yard waste from March 1 to December 15, plus one pickup in January and one pickup in February.? The maximum cost of the service to all customers would be $3.25 per month.? Thus, monthly cost for full-service garbage, recycling, and yard waste would increase from $23.50 to $26.75 per month.?

The second option would be to offer premium yard waste service to only those customers who sign up for it.? Yard waste collection would take place as described in the first option.? The cost would be $100 per year, but $16.67 payments could be made every other month.

While I am concerned about adding an additional $39 to the yearly cost of everyone’s bill, there are advantages to year-round yard waste pickup that make this option a strong choice.? I would appreciate hearing your perspective on this issue.?

TAXPAYERS WILL SPEND $249,000 TO REMOVE ASBESTOS FROM A BUILDING IT DOESN’T OWN

The former YWCA at the SE corner of N. Main St. and E. Eldorado St. has been vacant and in a state of disrepair for decades.? It has not had active utilities for many years and water was terminated in 2005.? Recently, the brick fa?ade on the north wall of the building started to collapse on to the city sidewalk which was subsequently closed as a safety precaution.? The building will need to be demolished, but to date the owners of the building have not done so.? Thus, the city must take action, and before demolition can take place, asbestos needs to be removed at a cost to Decatur taxpayers of $249,000.?

As written in the council memo, “The fact these local owners, with the means to clean up their own property, refuse to do so is an offense to Decatur taxpayers who may ultimately be left with the bill.? The city will, therefore, pursue all legal remedies to obtain compensation for public expenditures needed to clean up this private mess.? After the asbestos is removed, the buildings will need to be demolished and cleared.”

Property owners must be held financially accountable for their properties.? One way that citizens can respond is by expressing their displeasure through their wallets.? The YWCA building (as well as other buildings such as the former downtown YMCA building which was declared unfit for human habitation) are owned by individuals that operate small businesses in Decatur.? If residents are concerned that the city will spend $249,000 of their tax dollars to remove asbestos from a building it does not own, perhaps it is time for the residents to stop supporting the owner’s businesses. ?It can only harm Decatur’s reputation when the first building one sees when they enter our downtown is a delipidated one that threatens public safety with bricks falling from its side.?

INAPPROPRIATE PROCESS TO SELECT CITY MANAGER ERODES TRUST IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

I welcome back Mr. Tim Gleason to our beloved home, look forward to working with him in the years ahead, and wish him tremendous success in making our city of 69,000 residents a better place to live.

Unfortunately, the process by which Mr. Gleason will be hired exemplifies one of the long-term challenges our city faces – the limited opportunities for top positions among underrepresented groups and those without ties to our city.? When at least 4 of 7 members of the council want a candidate, they can move forward with a process that does not seek applications from interested parties, does not involve interviewing multiple candidates, yet does provide an exceptional compensation package to the individual selected.? Lack of due diligence by the city council can decrease trust, erode confidence, and lead to questions regarding fair representation in local government.?

To be clear, the process that was used to hire the city manager can also be used to advance policies that are not in the best interest of our residents.? Hypothetically say that a multi-billion company wanted to build a carbon dioxide pipeline through Decatur.? All it would need to do is privately meet with at least 4 council members, advocate for the benefits of the pipeline, reassure them it will be safe, and regardless of the views of 69,000 residents and the actual safety record of carbon dioxide pipelines, there will be an easement granted for carbon dioxide pipeline through Decatur.?

The appointment of a city manager without competition is unequivocally not in the city's best interest.? The majority of council members sent a message to women, persons of color, current city employees, and executives from across the country that our best opportunities are not for you.? The process chosen by the majority of the council is the antithesis of the city’s Minority Business Enterprise ordinance that was developed to ensure that contractors on public works projects make a good faith effort for MBE’s to be provided with subcontracting opportunities and for persons of color to work on publicly funded projects.? (Ironically, this ordinance was championed by Tim Gleason.).?

Decatur continues to experience substantial population decline, and we will need innovators and a spirit of entrepreneurship to reverse our loss.? Is our next city manager the best person for Decatur's top job?? We will never know, but unequivocally, we have lost the opportunity to find out. Despite my strongest objections to the process, I look forward to working with Mr. Gleason.? His knowledge and background of Decatur should serve our residents well for many years to come.? ?

PLEASE EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING

The next city council meeting will take place on Monday, April 1 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/.