By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The City of Decatur recently announced this year’s recipients of facade grants in which the city will match, up to $10,000, a businesses’ spending to upgrade its facilities.
The city has a similar 50/50 plan for sidewalk improvements, Operations Manager Jeremy Gilbert noted at the latest meeting of city council.
Gilbert said anyone interested should contact him by calling the public works department on Elm St., 724-3356.
Mayor Dan Rickord added, “If you need a sidewalk done, let us know. You basically can do it for half-price.”
The city annually puts $50,000 into the sidewalk program. Under it, a property owner – once approved – pays half the cost of installing a new sidewalk or repairing a current one and the city picks up the other 50%.
Last year, the program was changed. Under the new format, a property owner can pay 25% of the cost of installation, with the city covering the remaining 75%. Then the property owner has one year to pay his/her remaining 25% to the city.
The payment plan, however, covers only residential areas.
“We want to target the residential areas,” Building/Zoning Superintendent Curt Witte said at the time of the change.
