DECATUR -- The Decatur City Council had a full slate of items on the agenda as it met June 15 at Decatur City Hall. Topping the agenda was a request by the Decatur Chamber of Commerce to pave the parking area on the east end of Pat Drive at Veterans Park.
According to Margo Barnes, chamber president, organizers of the Decatur Barbecue have received several complaints over the past few years about handicap accessibility at Veterans Park during the event. The chamber made its request to Decatur Mayor Bob Tharp during its June 1 meeting in the community room at city hall.
"I have people calling the chamber complaining that the rough gravel surface of the parking area on the east end of Pat Drive is hard for wheel chairs to access during the Barbecue," Barnes said. "We need to have that area paved."
After meeting further with chamber members, Tharp researched an option to pave not only the parking area surrounding the stage and concession stand but Pat Drive and Charley Street as well.
"I would like to see this completed before the Decatur Barbecue in August," Tharp said. "I checked with Benton County and they can complete this project in that time frame."
Benton County Road Department offered the use of its equipment and labor if Decatur provides the material. The city would take funds from the street department budget to complete the paving project.
The council gave the go ahead to pursue the paving project at Veterans Park. The council will hold a special meeting June 22 to review the cost and give final approval for the paving project.
The council's next topic of discussion was also centered around the further development of Veterans Park.
In May, Tharp was approached by several parents requesting the city look into building a youth soccer field at the park.
Because of the continued growth and popularity of the youth soccer program, coupled with the recent success of the Decatur High School soccer team during the state playoffs, organizers of the program feel that a new field would be in the best interest of the city. With a new field in place, Decatur teams would have the ability to play home games and host tournaments at the park. Decatur teams currently travel to Gentry to compete.
After reviewing photographs of the park, including the current practice field, the council voted to pursue the project, including funding options to design and construct the new projects.
In other action, the council passed an ordinance which would regulate door-to-door sales and ice cream truck operations within the city limits. The ordinance would also require a business licence to operate inside Decatur.
Councilman James Jessen presented a rough draft of proposed changes to a Decatur animal control ordinance regarding raising chickens within city limits. The council decided to table the ordinance until city attorney Michael Nutt can review the changes.
The Decatur City Council meets on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the conference room at City Hall. Decatur residents wishing to bring issues before the council can do so during the first 30 minutes of each meeting. To get an item on the agenda or for more information, call 752-3912 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
General News on 06/24/2015