March is highlighted this year as "Animal Control Month." Over the past several years, a huge addition has been completed to our animal control facility. In 2011 the city was operating an animal shelter in a small facility and your city leadership has worked diligently to built a state-of-the-art animal shelter. Today that facility, located at the wastewater plant, is a very functional facility, providing a safe, warm and secure building for lost dogs. Our facility is central heated and air-conditioned.
We do not pick up cats at this time, but we are working towards that in the future. City dog licenses are required in the city limits of Decatur. They are renewable each year. This helps us return lost pets to their owners much sooner. The cost is $3 for pets that have been spayed and neutered and $10 for those that haven't. The city now has the ability to scan pets that have been chipped by their veterinarian, thanks to the help of a local animal shelter.
Our city website, decaturarkansas.com, is a great place to find your dog or become an adoptive pet owner. Go to the animal control tab on this site and pictures of all of the dogs we have at the facility are posted.
Some things the city is working on presently are: preparing to open the swimming pool; additional playground equipment at Royce Johnson Memorial Park and Splash Park; a personnel elevator for city hall to make the second floor functional; and looking toward city cleanup later this spring, including abandoned vehicle removal.
Our "Town Hall Reception" is now scheduled for March 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the community room at City Hall. You can get acquainted with your city council, members of all our city committees and have the opportunity to sign up for one or more of these community committees. Our recently-formed Historical Committee is now open for new members.
Presently, committees that are functional are: Library; Planning and Zoning; Parks; Cemetery; Economic Development; and Historical. Anyone interested in serving Decatur is welcome to help us make a difference.
Upcoming events include an annual Easter egg hunt, sponsored by the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, on March 28, at 10 a.m.
About Town for the month of April will highlight our volunteer fire department.
General News on 03/04/2015