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Decatur council introduces higher building‑permit fees and adopts code supplement; accepts clean audit and hears resident traffic petition
Summary
Council introduced Ordinance 2026‑6 to raise building‑permit and demolition fees and tabled it to May 5 after adopting it on first reading; it adopted Ordinance 2026‑9 to supplement the municipal code, accepted a State Board of Accounts audit with no findings, and heard a resident request a 3‑way stop at 7th and Madison.
The Decatur Common Council on April 21 heard a proposal to raise building‑permit and demolition fees, adopted a code‑supplement ordinance, accepted a clean audit for 2021–2024 and listened to a resident petition about a local intersection.
Curt Witte, Building and Zoning Superintendent, told the council that current inspection fees understate the actual number and cost of inspections for a typical home (he cited about 11 inspections for a new home) and recommended updates to better reflect costs. Ordinance 2026‑6, which would amend Chapter 150, Section 150.357 of the Decatur Code of Ordinances to change building permit fees and demolition costs, was introduced and read by City Attorney Anne Razo. The council adopted Ordinance 2026‑6 on its first reading by a recorded roll call vote of 5‑0 and then voted to table further action on the ordinance until the May 5 meeting; a public hearing will be held at that meeting.
Separately, the council considered Ordinance 2026‑9 to supplement the Codified Ordinances of 2015 with ordinances passed since that codification. That ordinance was placed on and adopted at its second reading by roll call 5‑0.
Clerk‑Treasurer Eran Hackman reported that the State Board of Accounts audit for 2021–2024 had been received "with no notes or opinions," and the council made the audit report a matter of record. Hackman thanked former Clerk‑Treasurers Phyllis Whitright and Kevin Hackman and current staff for their work on the audit.
During public comment, resident Mary Montgomery‑Byer presented a petition with 23 signatures asking the council to make the intersection of 7th Street and Madison Street a 3‑way stop for safety. Council members said the request would be taken under advisement and referred to Street & Sanitation Superintendent Matt Schultz and Police Chief Kevin Gerber for review.
