City-wide garage sale approved

Decatur council approves sales, changes zoning, discusses pool

— City council members voted, during the June 13 meeting, to approve plans for a free citywide garage sale on July 29 through 31.

Residents are limited to two yard sales per year and a permit fee of $5 is charged for each sale. The city-wide sale will not count towards the two-sale limit and no permit fee will be charged.

The sale was scheduled so community members could get things cleaned up and make extra money to purchase school clothes and supplies on Arkansas' Tax Free Day Aug. 6, explained city administrative assistant Kim Wilkins.

“I think that weekend would be a very good time to have it,” said Linam.

Zoning Changes

In other business, city council members voted to change the zoning on Harold and councilwoman Gina Holt’s property from commercial to agricultural at the June 13 meeting.

The couple has been paying taxes at a commercial rate on their land - instead of a agricultural rate - for the past15 years, Gina Holt said. They have 21 acres of land near Arkansas Highway 102 West with a home, chicken houses and pastures.

The land was probably zoned for commercial use when the Black & Decker manufacturing plant was built next door, Mayor Charles Linam said. The zoning changes will apply strictly to the Holt’s property, he said.

The planning and zoning committee voted to approve the zoning change on May 19. Gina Holt abstained from voting on the matter at the meeting.

Swimming Pool

Linam reported there has been good attendance at the city swimming pool since it opened on May 31.

More than 50 people attended a free swim party, held to kick off the summer season on June 4.

While the pool is still losing money, it is hopefully losing money at a slower pace than in years past, Linam said.

Water Department Manager Rocky Mills reported the city will have to make the pool handicapped accessible before next year to stay in compliance with federal regulations.

Adding a portable liftchair would be more affordable than pouring concrete for a ramp, Mills said. The costs for the chair could range from $2,500 to $7,000. He recommended buying a portable lift chair so it could be taken inside and protected from the weather during the winter months.

The pool's gates would also have to be enlarged and the sidewalk would have to be extended to the parking lot to make it fully handicapped accessible, Mills said.

News, Pages 2 on 06/22/2011