Decatur City Council approves contracts, schedules demolition hearing and tables park-rate changes
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Summary
At its Feb. 17 meeting the Decatur City Council set a public hearing for demolition of a derelict car wash, approved several engineering and right-of-way contracts, authorized a historic structures study and a property sale, and tabled proposed Point Mallard rate changes for further review.
The Decatur City Council on Feb. 17 approved a series of routine and project-specific actions, set a public hearing for demolition of an unsafe building and delayed proposed rate changes for Point Mallard park venues.
The council voted to set a public hearing for Resolution 25-019 to consider demolition of the former car wash at 2612 Old Bolton Road SW, scheduled for March 17, 2025 at 10 a.m. The council also moved forward on a series of staff-recommended contracts and assessments: a special-event retail liquor-license public hearing for Carnegie Visual Arts Center (Resolution 25-020); nuisance-abatement cost assessments of $348 each for properties at 1517 Bay Street SW (Resolution 25-021) and 1121 10th Avenue SE (Resolution 25-022); and an agreement with LAS (board AXS sergeant planning and design) to produce a historic-structures report for the Carnegie Arts Center (Resolution 25-023).
The council approved relocation-expense payments tied to right-of-way acquisition for the Upper River Road/Tract 12708 Davenport property project using state funds (Resolution 25-024). Council members also approved an engineering proposal from Morrell Engineering for access improvements at Wilson Morgan Park (Resolution 25-025) and awarded a construction contract for Sixth Avenue roadwork to Grayson Carter & Son Contracting for the project identified in the agenda (Resolution 25-026). Two infrastructure items (Resolution 25-025 and Resolution 25-026) passed with closer votes; other routine items passed unanimously.
Councilors tabled a set of Point Mallard rate and fee proposals (Resolutions 25-027, 25-028 and 25-029) after staff said more information was needed on specific fees and timing. Stephanie McClain of Decatur Parks and Recreation told the council that proposed pass and fee changes would take effect May 1 and that tabling the items would allow staff time to provide outstanding detail. “We can table this one. The proposed changes…those we have not—those we are proposing to put in place as of May 1,” McClain said.
On ordinances, the council approved Ordinance 25-4603 to declare 710 and 712 Walnut Street NW surplus and authorize sale to Marilyn Williams, voting to consider the ordinance for immediate consideration and adopting it the same meeting. The council also approved Ordinance 25-4602, which establishes salary and compensation for the mayor and city council for the term beginning November 2025. Dawn Roediger of the finance department told the council the ordinance would set the mayoral salary at $120,000 annually, council member pay at $21,000 annually and council-president pay at $24,000 annually; the increases take effect for officials elected in November 2025 and do not automatically change during their terms.
The council scheduled its next work session for Feb. 24, 2025 at 5 p.m. and a regular meeting for March 3, 2025 at 6 p.m., and announced planning director interview sessions later in February.
Votes at a glance - Resolution 25-019 — Set public hearing for demolition of 2612 Old Bolton Road SW (hearing set for 2025-03-17 at 10:00 a.m.) — outcome: approved (motion to set hearing adopted). - Resolution 25-020 — Special-event retail liquor license (Carnegie Carnival, Carnegie Visual Arts Center) — outcome: approved, roll call unanimous. - Resolution 25-021 — Assess $348 for abatement at 1517 Bay Street SW — outcome: approved, roll call unanimous. - Resolution 25-022 — Assess $348 for abatement at 1121 10th Ave SE — outcome: approved, roll call unanimous. - Resolution 25-023 — Authorize agreement with LAS for historic-structures report (Carnegie Arts Center) — outcome: approved, roll call unanimous. - Resolution 25-024 — Approve Davenport property relocation expenses (state-funded right-of-way acquisition) — outcome: approved, roll call unanimous. - Resolution 25-025 — Approve Morrell Engineering proposal for Wilson Morgan Park access improvements — outcome: approved (vote reported 2–1). - Resolution 25-026 — Award contract to Grayson Carter & Son Contracting for Sixth Avenue roadwork — outcome: approved (vote reported 2–1). - Resolutions 25-027, 25-028, 25-029 — Point Mallard / Park & Rec rate and facility fee changes — outcome: tabled to next meeting (vote: 3–0 to table). - Ordinance 25-4603 — Declare surplus and authorize sale of 710 & 712 Walnut St. NW to Marilyn Williams — outcome: approved for immediate consideration and adopted (vote: 3–0). - Ordinance 25-4602 — Establish mayor and city council compensation for term beginning Nov. 2025 (mayor $120,000; council $21,000; council president $24,000) — outcome: approved (vote: 3–0).
Council discussion and staff remarks focused on project delivery, landscaping choices for road medians and clarification requests on proposed parks fees. Several council members asked staff to return with additional detail on the aquatic-center transaction fee and suggested possible reductions for Decatur residents or lower fees specifically for the aquatic center. Stephanie McClain said staff will provide the requested information if the council chooses to revisit the rate changes.
The council’s actions move multiple capital and maintenance projects forward while pausing decisions on Point Mallard pricing to allow staff to respond to council questions.