By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Some key dates for Decatur residents to remember:
APRIL 8: Solar Eclipse Day.
“There are a lot of questions (surrounding the day),” Mayor Dan Rickord said at the latest meeting of city council.
“We don’t know if 10 people will be coming to the county or 10,000. So I don’t know what’s going to happen, what we want to do with our employees (as to a possible day off).”
“So I just want you to think about it,” he told council, noting that the subject will be broached again at the next council meeting, on Tuesday, April 2.
There have been projections saying that thousands of people may be flocking to this prime viewing area, on the day of the eclipse, Monday, April 8.
Some businesses are reported planning to close that day, as are some schools.
The event will last from about 1:53 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. here, with totality occurring from 3:09 to 3:12.
The next total solar eclipse in Indiana will occur in 2099, according to experts.
March 29: City Hall closed.
City Hall will be closed on that date, which is Good Friday.
Trash/garbage collections will be held as usual.
April 1-5: Heavy Trash Collection Week.
Heavy trash items will be collected by the city on Monday through Friday.
Pickups will be made on the same schedule as the weekly trash/garbage collections.
Items which will not be accepted: Appliances, electronics (such as TVs), carpeting, and construction materials left over from a project.
APRIL 6: Golf Cart & UTV Registration Day.
Registrations will be taken that Saturday at the police station on Seventh St. from 9 a.m.. to 3 p.m., according to Police Chief Kevin Gerber.
Golf carts became legal on city streets some 15 years ago and as of early November, a total of 344 carts were registered with the police department.
Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) were legalized on city streets only a year or two ago and the PD had 127 of them registered as of early November.