Rural residents voice opinions on annexation; Decatur council passes three ordinances

DECATUR — Rural residents living outside the Decatur city limits waited two weeks to voice their opinions on the city’s proposed annexation ordinance. Because of bad weather Nov. 11, Decatur mayor Bob Tharp had to postpone the regular meeting of the Decatur City Council until Nov. 25 in the conference room at city hall.

As per normal procedure for council meetings, Tharp opened the first 30 minutes for citizen comments and concerns. About 10 rural residents filled the council chamber, but no one took advantage of this time.

But Betty and Tommy Turner, owners and operators of Decatur Salvage, had requested time on the agenda prior to the meeting. As it turned out, the Turners spoke for the collective on this issue.

Betty Turner was the first to speak. Her question was geared to the annexation ordinance.

“I have a question for you,” Betty Turner began. “Why were we not notified that you were going to annex our land?”

Tharp answered, “Had we proceeded with the process that we established, you would have been notified if that ordinance had passed by this council on the third reading,” Tharp explained. “Since it is no longer under consideration, there is no ordinance to even talk about. You would have been notified by the election commission as soon as they received the information from the city.”

The annexation ordinance, which would have given some rural residents the chance to become part of Decatur, was withdrawn from consideration because it did not gain permission from County Judge Barry Moehring and Mayor Tharp per Act 1072, section (b)(1) which required both county judge and mayor to approve annexation of any uninhabited land.

Betty Turner presented a petition signed by the landowners who opposed the annexation of the land.

“The case of annexation is no longer under consideration,” Tharp explained. “I went public with a press release explaining the causes of the annexation question’s failure. I will take your petition and put it into public records at the city hall for future reference.”

When Tommy Turner took the podium, he was quick to point out the housing construction project on Bredehoeft Road on the southeast boundary of the city. He suggested the city help as best they can with this project and future housing construction. Tommy Turner concluded his statement to the council with some simple advice.

“If you are going to do something to grow the city, be sensible,” Tommy Turner said.

Before the council meeting, a public hearing was held to review and comment on the city’s new sewer rate ordinance which would adjust the monthly rates and charges for Decatur users. No comments were made during the hearing.

During the regular meeting, the council considered four ordinances, the first of which was the sewer rate. The five members present passed the measure on three readings and enacted by vote an emergency clause, putting it in effect Nov. 25.

Under the new ordinance, the rates, which are based on water consumption and or meter readings in gallons, are as follows:

For residential sewer rates 0-1,000 gallons $7.20 per thousand gallons; 1,000-10,000 gallons - $3.64 per thousand gallons; 10,000-50,000 gallons - $3.34 per thousand gallons; 50,001-plus gallons - $3.24 per thousand gallons.

For industrial/commercial sewer rates: 0-1,000 gallons - $7.20 per thousand gallons; 1,000-10,000 gallons - $364 per thousand gallons; 10,00050,000 gallons - $3.34 per thousand gallons; 50,000300,000 gallons - $3.24 per thousand gallons; 300,001plus gallons - $4.22 per thousand gallons.

The council reviewed two additional ordinances on the liquor tax and Sunday alcohol sales in Decatur. The liquor tax would bring in “one percent on gross proceeds or gross receipts derived from sales of alcoholic beverages” (Ordinance 19-10) on alcohol sold within the Decatur city limits.

The measure overcame one major hurdle when the council passed it on three readings and with an emergency clause. Now it will go to the voters on the March 2020 ballot for final approval.

The Sunday sales measure was defeated by the council. If it had passed, it too would have gone to the voters on the March 2020 ballot. This ordinance was considered nine months ago and failed at that time as well.

A condemnation ordinance was the final measure under consideration by the council.

City officials found it necessary to update the city building code enforcement and condemnation of building codes. It defined what a “Nuisance Structure” was and the city’s way to deal with them and who has the power to do so.

The council passed this measure on three readings as well. To obtain a complete copy of this ordinance, contact the city clerk’s office at Decatur City Hall.

The Decatur City Council meets on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the conference room at Decatur City Hall. The first 30 minutes of the meeting are devoted to Decatur citizen comments and or concerns. For more information on any of these ordinances or any other concerns, contact the city clerk’s office at 479-752-3914.