March 23, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Budget, Zoning Issues Top Council Agenda
DECATUR - The Decatur City Council on Monday heard from the city’s fire and water department during continued talks regarding the city’s budget and voted in favor of changing the zoning of a west end property from a single family residence to a two family district.
Fire Chief Matt Sekosky noted that the fire department has a budget of about $15.2 million of which about $400,000 is discretionary (not already contractually obligated) to maintain facilities and equipment. Sekosky said that the department relies heavily on grants to fund department operations and that the department’s goals are twofold: to lower its Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating and to make sure they can get to 90 percent of residences within 4 to 6 minutes.
According to published reports, the Insurance Services Office (ISO) surveys communities on a regular basis to determine the Public Protection Classification for the fire protection services protecting the community. The lower the rating, the better the fire protection and Sekosky said that new technology now being implemented will help to meet departmental goals.
Keith Alexander, city director for water management credited the council with approving a pair of items last year which are already saving the city a significant amount of money. Both water tank maintenance agreements and a system leak survey continue to produce results, with the leak survey alone saving an estimated $172,000 each year. Alexander also mentioned several projects now on the drawing board, including:
- South elevated tank and pressure zone — would add a new south elevated tank.
- Water system improvement s project — Project would upgrade chemical feed and radio systems.
- Lake Decatur Dredging and Dam repairs.
It is estimated that the projects, if undertaken, would be funded through water sales, grants and possibly through federal funding. City Manager Ryan McCrady indicated that performance contracting could benefit both the water and fire departments through facilities system improvements.
In the rezoning case, the council voted 4-3 in favor of rezoning the property at 5 Edgewood Court just off of West Main Street from R-3 Single Family Residence to R-5 Two Family Residence. The purpose for the rezoning request was so that the structure can be used as a duplex as it was originally built prior to the enactment of the City’s zoning ordinance.
Although the structure was originally built as a duplex it was later used as a single family structure which led to its losing the right to be used as a duplex. The rezoning was required to allow that use.
For more information contact Billy Tyus at 424-2753.