Decatur approves new city attorney designation, municipal court appointments and Comcast easement

The Decatur City Commission authorized the city manager to enter into an agreement with the law firm identified in meeting materials and designated Irene Vander Els as city attorney at its Jan. 6 meeting. Speaker 1 presented the recommendation and commissioners approved the motion by voice vote.

In presenting the appointment, Speaker 1 reviewed the city’s long relationship with the outgoing attorney, Brian Downs, noting his 25 years of service. Materials provided to the commission named the law firm in two ways in the record; Speaker 1 referred to "Wilson Wharton and Downs" while the motion language in the meeting transcript reads "Wilson, Morton and Downs." The commission approved the authorization to contract and the designation of Irene Vander Els.

Assistant City Manager Teresa DeCastro explained changes to municipal court appointments after a 2024 state law extended the minimum term for municipal court judges to two years. The commission voted to reappoint Rethelia Stroud as chief municipal court judge and to appoint or reappoint the listed part-time and substitute judges as recommended.

The commission also approved an easement to Comcast Cable Communications Management to provide broadband and other telecommunications services at the South Housing Village property. Staff and a commissioner confirmed the utility installation would be buried.

All three items — the city attorney designation and agreement authorization, the municipal court appointments, and the Comcast easement — were approved by motion, second and voice vote during the meeting.