DECATUR -- With the departure of Debbie Weston and the organization under new management, the Decatur Housing Authority has cleaned up its act and is conducting meetings in accordance with Arkansas Code.
Gone are the locked doors and closed meetings. Gone is the intimidation of an overzealous manager and board president.
In its January meeting, the authority elected new board officers and nominated a new board member.
Stacy Brooks is now the president, replacing Carl Florer who had been president of that body for more than 20 years. Fred Thompson will remain vice-president and Paula McGee will assume the secretary's position.
On Nov. 15, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Housing Authority based in Harrison took over the management of Decatur Housing Authority properties. Jennifer Campbell now handles the finances for DHA.
The Harrison operation also hired Billy Young to manage the three complex properties in Decatur.
When Ken Setser's term expired at the end of December 2014, the board conducted a search for his replacement. The names of Bill Basler, Charles Linam and Ken Setser were placed on the table for consideration. Ultimately, Charles Linam was nominated to fill the open position. The board then submitted Linam's name to the Decatur City Council, as mandated by state law, for approval. In a vote by the council, Linam's nomination was passed and he now serves as the newest member of the Decatur Housing Authority Board of Directors.
During the Feb. 25 meeting in its office on Main St., the Decatur Housing Authority discussed the pickup truck that was purchased by Weston in September of 2014. Shortly after Weston's resignation, the truck turned up missing. Upon further investigating by Florer, the truck was found at a repair garage in Lowell with a blown head on the engine. The board discussed at length what needed to be done to the truck and how to get it back to Decatur. Brooks suggested tabling action on the vehicle and asked Florer to contact the garage owner to find out the cost to get the truck operational.
With Linam on the board, Brooks at its head, and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Housing Authority managing the property and finances, the Decatur Housing Authority is on the road to becoming a viable organization in the community. Though it may take a year or two to recover from the issues which plagued the housing authority in recent years, it is now appears to be on the road to a better future.
General News on 03/04/2015