Decatur City Council approves package of resolutions including demolition assessments and temporary cell sites for Rock the South

The Decatur City Council on an undisputed, unanimous series of votes approved a group of resolutions covering property abatements, temporary cellular facilities for the Rock the South concert, grant applications for historic‑district surveys and development agreements intended to spur downtown reinvestment.

Council action and votes came largely on consent after brief staff presentations. Josh Sloan of community development told the council the structure at 305 Robin Road Southwest had been condemned and the owner had been unresponsive; the council set a public hearing for demolition and abatement for June 15, 2026. Sloan also confirmed the city had already demolished properties at 813 and 821 Austin Street Southwest and asked to assess the demolition costs ($6,816.20 and $9,076.20, respectively) to the properties; both assessments were approved 5–0.

The council approved two special‑use permits for temporary cell sites at 3536 Gordon Terry Parkway to ensure coverage during the Rock the South concert. David Andrews with CMS said carriers planned to place 70‑foot mobile “cells on wheels” inside fenced areas with backup generators and that CMS recommended approval. The council approved the AT&T request (Resolution 26111) and later a T‑Mobile request added as a late item (Resolution 26125), both by unanimous votes.

Other approvals included: a resolution (26122) granting a special‑event retail liquor license for Greenewalt Hospitality LLC (The Fields) for June 11–13, 2026 after staff noted revenue criteria were met; application approvals to pursue National Park Service grants to update the Albany Historic Residential District survey and to pursue phase 2 work for the Fairview/Penny Acres area (Resolutions 26114 and 26115); a vacation of 0.1 acres of drainage/utilities at 2412 Chapel Hill Road (Resolution 26116); a budget amendment to purchase barricades from the Carnegie Visual Arts Center (Resolution 26118); and approval to use InvoiceCloud as the planning department’s payment processor for short‑term rental application fees (Resolution 26119).

Council also approved a ground lease extension with the SBA for a tower near Pointe Mallard Recreation Area (Resolution 26120). As presented to the council, the existing lease payments were roughly $10,000 per month and staff estimated total receipts over an extended term could exceed $8,000,000; CMS had reviewed and recommended the extension.

A development agreement with Casa Grande LLC (Resolution 26121) sets timelines for architectural/engineering plans and permits, requires a minimum investment of $5,000,000 on adjoining lots, and establishes minimum retail and residential square footage requirements as conditions of released restrictions. Council members praised the continued focus on downtown residential development.

The meeting ended with department updates from the mayor (including a successful Derby downtown event), a question about the sports‑pledge bid schedule and reminders that the council will not meet next week for Memorial Day; the next regular work session and meeting were scheduled for June 1, 2026.

Votes at a glance: all listed resolutions below were approved by the council, majority noted as unanimous 5–0 unless otherwise indicated.

- Resolution 26109: Set public hearing for abatement at 305 Robin Road SW — set for 06/15/2026. - Resolution 26110: Assess $348 for nuisance abatement at 401 12th Avenue NW — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26111: Special use permit for AT&T temporary cellular facility (3536 Gordon Terry Pkwy) — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26112: Assess demolition cost $6,816.20 (813 Austin St SW) — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26113: Assess demolition cost $9,076.20 (821 Austin St SW) — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26114: Apply for National Park Service grant to update Albany Historic Residential District survey — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26115: Apply for National Park Service grant (Fairview/Penny Acres phase 2) — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26116: Vacation request (No. 600‑26) for Donald and Sonya Snow (2412 Chapel Hill Rd) — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26117: Relocate Holly Street EV charging stations to Morgan County parking lot (grant $65,000 noted) — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26118: Budget amendment to purchase barricades from Carnegie Visual Arts Center — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26119: Approve InvoiceCloud as payment processor for planning applications — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26120: Ground lease extension with SBA for tower use (Pointe Mallard area) — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26121: Authorize mayor to execute agreement with Casa Grande LLC (development agreement) — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26123: Change Order No. 10 for recreation center (roughly $90,000) — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26124: Parks & Recreation parking lot lease on Central Parkway ($500/month) — approved 5–0. - Resolution 26125: Special use permit for T‑Mobile temporary cellular facility (3536 Gordon Terry Pkwy) — approved 5–0.

The council took only routine follow‑up steps on most items; several staff presentations noted conditions (outstanding paperwork for a liquor license, permitting requirements for temporary cell sites, and grant awards returning to council for acceptance if awarded). The public hearing set for 305 Robin Road Southwest will be the next formal opportunity for public input on that abatement action.