By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
“Safety and security are the main concerns,” Decatur resident Dustin Myers recently told city council as he sought support for a street light and a fence replacement in his neighborhood.
Myers resides at 233 Water St., a short, north-south street which is situated just north of the former county jail on First St.
The fence in question is in poor condition and Myers asked if the city would split the cost of a replacement. He offered a quote of $5,342 which he had received from a company to remove the current fence and install a new one.
The security light would be situated near the end of what is Adams St., near the old jail.
The former jail building is not occupied, but a few people are residing in an out building which once housed non-violent offenders.
Replying to a question from Mayor Dan Rickord, city Operations Manager Matt Schultz said city employees could remove the fence, providing a cost savings. “I don’t think it would be a problem,” he said.
The mayor also told Myers that the Mayor’s Youth Council operates a beautification program which offers grants up to $500, a possible way to lower the cost of a new fence.
After some further discussion, Rickord noted that nothing could be done until spring, which will afford Schultz and others some time to look over the situation.
“We’ll try to work with you to get something done,” he told Myers.
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