By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Decatur City Council has approved an inter-local agreement with Adams County government that will provide a big step toward a countywide transportation service.
The agreement was unanimously approved at council’s Tuesday meeting after a few minor changes were made in the original document, and the city agreed to pay for a survey of a small piece of land which is part of the much larger area on which the MERIT Center is situated.
The agreement now goes to county officials, with approval expected.
The city owns the MERIT Center (former Northwest School) on Dayton Ave. and, per the agreement, will provide the council on aging with a 20-year lease at the center. The council will occupy its two rooms in the building rent free, and in return will provide – as it already does – various services such as being an information center, maintenance work, etc.
The city has agreed to allow the council on aging to use a third, smaller room, for which a rental fee will be paid.
Also, the county will pay the city $200,000 for .7 of an acre of land on the northwest corner of the lot. In addition to its current four vehicles, the council on aging will add at least two more for the countywide transportation service.
A garage for all those vehicles will be constructed on a portion of the .7 of an acre.
County officials and Council on Aging Director Michelle Lengerich are gearing toward launching the transportation service the first of next year.
The council on aging moved into the MERIT Center in November of 2021, exiting the Adams County Service Complex.
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