Council approves lease

— Decatur City Council met Oct. 14, approved a lease arrangement and other procedural ordinances.

At the request of Ray Howard, a Decatur resident living on Hill St., the council passed a measure which would allow Howard to lease a parcel of city-owned land located across the street from his property for one year, subject to approval from Howard’s neighbors of the land’s use.

Approved was a resolution setting the mill levy at 5 mills for the 2014 collection of the 2013 assessments — unchanged from the current rate.

Also passed, on three readings with a single vote, was an ordinance designating the district court clerk as the official responsible for the collection of fi nes assessed in district court for the city.

In other council business, it was announced that the 2012 water audit and 2012 city of Decatur federal audit have been received by the mayor’s office and will be available for public review in November.

Centerton has received approval by state and federal waste water agencies to transfer its solid waste to Decatur. Centerton is working on obtaining easements for the transfer project.

Decatur police chief, Terry Luker, reported that the number of calls for service had dropped in September from previous months. The June, July and August average was 113 calls for service. The September rate was 72. Luker had no explanation other than “it was a slow month.”

The city acquired a parcel of land on 7th Ave., between Hill St. and Buckner St., which will become the Royce Johnson Memorial Park. The park land was purchased through a federal grant.

The next city council meeting will be at 6 p.m., on Nov. 11, in the council chambers of city hall. The meetings are open to the public. Any Decatur resident wishing to bring an issue before the city council must fi rst contact Decatur city clerk, Kim Goble, at 752-3912, to be included on the agenda.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 10/23/2013