Council passes first reading on parking lot ordinance

DECATUR — The Decatur City Council reviewed a set of guidelines governing the use of the downtown public parking lot during its regular session in the conference room at Decatur City Hall July 10.

In April, the city of Decatur signed a long-term lease agreement with the Kansas City Southern Railroad for property extending from Roller Ave. to the south end of the train display area.

Since the downtown area is short of parking along the businesses on South Main Street near the depot, the council decided to designate the lot behind the meat market from the north side of the depot storage shed to Roller Ave. as public parking.

The ordinance, which establishes a two-hour parking limit and allocates two spaces for the businesses adjacent to the lot, was read in its entirety and passed on the first reading.The council will take up the second reading of this ordinance during its Aug. 21 meeting.

The council received news from Mayor Bob Tharp that work on the second phase of the Decatur side walk extension project is scheduled to begin July 17.

The first phase of the sidewalk project, running from downtown Decatur to the first driveway at Decatur Middle School, was completed in 2015.

The second phase of this project will run along the west side of State Highway 102 from the corner of Bredehoeft Rd. to the point where the 2015 work ended and from Austin Ave. to the parking lot at Veterans Park. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

Eventually, the city plans to extend the sidewalk system from Main St. to Northside Elementary School along Mount Olive Rd. Once completed, Decatur will have a continues public sidewalk that will connect Bredehoeft Rd. and the elementary school to the downtown business district on Main St.

The council approved are solution allowing Mayor T harp to reapply for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield New and You grant. The original 2015 grant was earmarked for a new walking trail at Veterans Park. However, the city was turned down for that grant.

The city applied for a Transportation Alternative Program grant to complete the third phase of the side walk extension project on the northwest side of Decatur.

The Decatur City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the first Monday of each month in the conference room at Decatur City Hall. The first 30 minutes of each meeting is open for citizens’ comments or concerns. For more information, contact the city clerk’s office at 479-752-3912.