I would like to express my feelings and the feelings of many residents of Adams County. Even though we live outside the Decatur corporation limits, we are still considered residents of Decatur.

Our hard earned money is spent on goods and services at local businesses in Decatur. Why wouldn’t the citizens of Decatur support the local farmers? The current ordinance 130.02 that is restricting the slaughter of animals within the city limits needs to be overturned. Allowing I-O Properties to conduct meat processing in our city will not only generate many jobs but it will also allow locally grown beef to be processed much closer than where it is sourced now. Currently, there is one restaurant in town that is serving meat that is raised in Mexico. There’s been many signs around town to support local. This is a perfect opportunity to do that! People don’t like big corporations, including myself, but when a family owned business wants to come into town, why is there so much opposition for it? How can we ever expect the city to grow if we don’t allow businesses to come into town? In my lifetime, there have been more businesses leave than come. I-O Properties will conduct a sustainable business that will be around for many, many years. This is our opportunity to improve our town.

Rhea Gratz