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Decatur FUTURE:
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, Vision & issues 

www.decaturalabamausa.com

 DISTRICT 4

"As a predominantly mature and established area, a main focus of our efforts must be
on communication, maintenance and improvements".

 Eight years ago made this statement and I maintain it as a focus for service in another term. I have worked diligently for improved communication with residents and infrastructure improvements such as:

• District Meetings held twice yearly – speakers included the Mayor, President of Morgan County Economic Development Assoc, Chamber of Commerce (BRAC), Fire Dept/Emergency Rescue, Sweetwater Representatives, City of Decatur Community Development, Planning, and Engineering Depts.

• Widening of Sandlin Road / 5^th AV-Sandlin Road Sidewalk – providing improved transportation on Sandlin Road and a continuous sidewalk from the new Fire Station #1 and Austin High Baseball Field to Wilson Morgan Park.

• Wilson Morgan Park Ball Field Fencing – old damaged fencing replaced on ball fields.

• Spring AV/Beltline Intersection Improvements – New lanes and traffic light sequences allowing 50% more traffic through the intersection in the same amount of time as before.

• Spring AV/Clearview Intersection – New traffic light to improve traffic flow along Spring Avenue.

• Spring AV/Carridale Intersection – New traffic light to improve traffic flow along Carridale Street.

• Austinville Park Lighting/Irrigation/Walking Trail – Continued Park improvements.

• Woodmeade Woods – Clearing/Walking Trail/Crepe Myrtles – making the area safer for neighborhood residents and usable by the students at Woodmeade for nature studies.

• Spring AV 5-laning (Clearview to Beltline) – providing a continuous left-turn lane to improve traffic flow and increase safety.

• Sims ST Extension – providing an alternate traffic route and easing congestion on Spring Avenue.  Also opens the area along the street to commercial development, thereby increasing the city’s tax base.

 I am also extremely proud of the accomplishments as a part of this current Mayor and Council and feel that as a group, much has been done to improve the economic, infrastructure, and growth potential for Decatur and its residents:

• Duckworth Development /Revolving Account for Sewer Expansion – policies and a fund developed for partnering with developers to construct needed sewer systems to promote residential growth.

• The Sweetwater Development at Hwy 20 and I-65 will transform Decatur’s northern gateway and bring tremendous economic growth for our city.  For more information, please visit the website at:  www.sweetwateralabama.com

• Zero-Based Budgeting – a conservative budget approach utilized by this administration that plans budgets each year on previous year’s tax collections rather than budgeting off of predicted growth, which makes for a much more reliable budget, greatly reducing chances of a budget shortfall.

• Timing Study/Re-Sequencing of Traffic Lights on Beltline and 6th Avenue – improved traffic flow along Decatur’s main arteries.

• Judge Crow Blvd – a planned collector street planned for SW Decatur has been moved closer to reality – I plan to work towards its completion to improve traffic flow, reduce travel time, and open up many new acres for residential growth.

• Reduction of City Government by combining 6 City Departments and Eliminating 3 Dept Head Positions/City Payroll Reduction – through city department consolidations and position reductions, the city payroll was reduced over $750,000 in FY2004.  Due to consolidations and increased efficiency, the City now has an average of 30 fewer employees than in 2004.

• Revamping of City Image by implementation of a City Marketing Plan – Efforts to give Decatur a new image to existing residents and to help attract new residents.  It has resulted in a much more interactive, attractive, and usable city website and logo.  New city signage will soon follow further helping to direct citizens and visitors around the city.  Visit the new City of Decatur website at:  www.decaturalabamausa.com

• Creation of City Redevelopment Districts for revitalization of economically disadvantaged areas – a zoning designation that allows once vibrant areas to be utilized in more modern ways with less red tape to promote re-growth.

• Partnering with DCS for installation of Video Security Surveillance Systems at AHS, DHS, OPMS, BMS, CRMS – the city provided a portion of this funding to increase needed security efforts in these schools.

• Restriction of City Sewer Service to City Limits – a tool for growth – anyone wishing to tie on to Decatur’s sewer system must annex into the corporate limits.

• Purchase of over 32 new Police Vehicles – to assist our Police Dept in providing better service to citizens.

• Vehicle Impound Ordinance for Driving w/o License – to improve road safety by getting unlicensed drivers off of the street.

• Completion of Ingall’s Marina – finalized construction that has allowed numerous fishing and other tourist attractions to be held in Decatur.  http://www.decaturparks.com/Ingalls_Harbor.asp

• Completion of Phase 1 of Jack Allen Recreation Center – finalization of Restroom and Concession facilities.  http://www.decaturparks.com/JASoccerComplex.asp

• GPS Systems on Police Cars – to help track vehicles for safety.

• Animal Shelter – replacement of an old, outdated, and unsafe facility to promote proper animal care and increase animal adoptions.  www.decaturanimalservices.com

• Smoking Ordinance – a measure to protect the health of those who utilize indoor public places.
  http://decaturalabamausa.com/departments/revenuedept/nosmoking.html

 As your Councilman, I will continue to improve communication and focus efforts toward the maintenance of our infrastructure, utilities, and neighborhood appeal.

 Our schools, streets, parks, curbs, gutters, alleys, public areas, street lights, and sewers require preventative and periodic maintenance. As a neighborhood resident, I now find myself looking for areas that need attention and reporting those to the proper authorities. It will be my continued duty and goal to seek these areas and to also identify needed improvements. Achievement of this goal will allow for the continuation of our District as a desirable place to live and will ultimately work to increase our property values.

 ECONOMY / SALES TAX / DEVELOPMENT
Decatur was built on industry and it has provided an incredible tax base and quality of life for the last 100 years of Decatur’s history.  Decatur also has other resources that will help it prosper in the 21^st century.  The river is an asset of which Decatur has not used to its full advantage.  Bringing people to our section of the Tennessee River will allow us to tap into one of the fastest growing industries in Alabama – tourism.  Point Mallard is an untapped resource for Decatur.  Properly developed, it would bring great return to Decatur - the majority of which would be outside investment.

Outside investment in Decatur means a lower tax burden for Decatur residents.  

Properly developing the I-565 interchange will take Decatur to a new level - this area can rival Huntsville in retail offerings and bring regional revenues to our city.

We must develop in conjunction with the river and re-create a city that draws people to it. Our basic industrial recruitment efforts must continue, but we must also seek high-tech industry investment, maximize our tourism efforts and make Decatur a city that attracts people as a desirable place to live.  All of these goals go hand-in-hand and are critical to Decatur remaining a prosperous and thriving city that provides us all a continually improving "quality of life".

 BUSINESS FRIENDLY ?
Make Decatur “Business Friendly”?  What does this mean?  Are we friendly now?  Why or why not?  We must answer these questions.  Reviewing Building Department operations and tying this into the department goals will lead us to any changes that need to be made.  Building regulations must be enforced, but we must remember at all times that we are public servants.

 SCHOOL SYSTEM
Overall, Decatur has an excellent and envied school system. Decatur City Schools is a system that is held by many as a model system - one to be copied and emulated. We have our problems, as all do, but my involvement has proven to me that there are many things that we do right and we should build on these strengths. We were recognized by the state for our Teacher In-Service Programs, a resource that works to expand the knowledge and skills of our classroom teachers. We must also, however, address our weaknesses. Our school buildings lack proper periodic and preventative maintenance. This is not a lack of effort on the part of our School Maintenance Department - it is just not currently set up to handle a preventative program. Our children and our community deserve buildings that are maintained, grounds that are attractive, and playgrounds that are safe and enjoyable. I will encourage the School Board to establish enhanced preventative maintenance and refurbishment programs. Our schools should be second to none. No one should leave Decatur City Schools because they would prefer to be elsewhere - we can have a system that is unquestionably the very best!

www.dcs.edu
 

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