DECATUR — With less than two months until the 57th Annual Decatur Barbecue Festival, Chamber of Commerce members hashed out the details for the event at Monday’s meeting.

The chamber voted to buy two new banners to hang over Main Street announcing the event. The new banners will be made of a heavier material and will have a nylon strap that extends the length of the top and bottom, Chamber of Commerce president Royce Johnson reported. They will read, “Welcome to the 57th Annual Barbecue Festival,” he said.

The banners that are being replaced had every grommet ripped out and frequently had to be straightened when they twistedin the wind. The new banners will cost $464 each, Johnson said.

The Chamber also voted to pay Ashlyn Metheny’s band to play at the Barbecue. Metheny agreed to sing with a CD for free, but her band asked for $600 to perform, Pat Austin reported. Metheny will be the opening act for country singer Buddy Jewell.

There was much discussion because the chamber has only paid for one other opening act in the history of the Barbecue. It was finally agreed that paying for the band would be a worthwhile investment.

Adam McGhee reported he has met with several other members and determined that 1,500 chicken dinners need to be cooked along with 1,000 hamburgers. The chamber will also be selling soft drinks and hot dogs during the event.

The chamber also discussed charging $3 for parking at the Barbecue, especially during the concert. They proposed having a school organization collect the money and direct traffic for a share of profits. No decisions were made on the matter.

Trip Lapham, representing the Parks and Recreation Committee, reported the miniature train will be giving rides on Friday and Saturday. Hot air balloons will also be at both the Friday and Saturday events, he said. On Friday, they will be set up in the field across the street from the Decatur Assembly of God so as not to interfere with the concert. On Saturday they will set up in the park. The fun run, poker run and car show will also be held on Saturday.

The next Chamber of Commerce meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 6, in the Gallery Cafe, because of the July 4 holiday.

News, Pages 2 on 06/09/2010