By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Free mulch is available at Decatur’s compost site off Jackson St. and just north of Riverside Center.
Not only is the mulch free, but city employees will load it for people at certain times.
Operations Manager Jeremy Gilbert said at the latest city council meeting that the city is doing mulch loading from 3-5 p.m on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 8-10 a.m. on Saturdays.
Gilbert also said yard waste collections have begun and the schedule is the same as pickups for trash and garbage.
“Please have everything curbside by 7 a.m.; we have a lot of stuff going on right now and won’t be able to go back somewhere for a pickup,” he exclaimed.
In one more item, street sweeping will be done the last two weeks of every month. Gilbert also noted that street sweeping will be done the last two weeks of every month.
AND SO ON:
Also at the meetings of the board of works and city council:
* Council agreed to give a portion of its opioid settlement funds to Crossroads Community. The city is due to receive some $20,000 over a period of 16 years.
Crossroads Executive Director Rene LeBlanc requested Decatur make the contribution, which, he said, Berne and Geneva are already doing.
“I like what they are doing and it’s only at the beginning stages,” Councilwoman Jenny Bowers-Shultz said.
Councilman Tyler Fullenkamp said he would like to see how the funds are used and so the board agreed to make the contribution with the stipulation that Crossroads makes an annual request.
Crossroads, based in Berne and an arm of Community Church there, operates addiction-recovery programs in this area, including providing housing.
* It was reported that Vanessa Jenkins has requested a handicap parking space at 247 S. Sixth St., across from her home at 246 N. Sixth. There is no parking on her side of the street and she has no driveway.
The request was tabled until the next meeting, allowing time to check out the situation.