By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Decatur City Council’s first meeting of 2025 was a brief one, not unusual for first-of-the-year meetings .
The January 7 meeting of the board of works and safety was followed by the council’s; the two required only about 40 minutes, total.
One council change made at its meeting will make ordinance passage slightly quicker.
For years, an ordinance was usually passed on two of three readings, then tabled until the next meeting, allowing time for an public comment.
Once in a while, when there is a need to move quickly, council would suspend the rules and lend its approval on all three readings that night.
At its first meeting of 2025, however, council approved an ordinance which requires only two readings for passage rather than three. It was passed on two readings, the rules were suspended, then the ordinance was passed on its third reading – the last to ever require three.
The public won’t be shut out, however. Under the new ordinance, council normally will approve on first reading, then table the second reading until the next meeting.
Resolutions are passed on one reading.
AID OKAY: In another matter, the board of works approved an auto-aid agreement presented by Fire Chief Jeff Sheets.
The agreement calls for Preble and Monroe volunteer fire departments to assist the Decatur Fire Department when needed.
“They will help with manpower on structure fires,” Sheets told the board.
An example involved the major fire which destroyed The Grainery in downtown Decatur last month. Both departments came to the aid of city firefighters.
The agreement is perpetual, although any of the parties can opt out with 60 days notice.
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