Roughly 250 showed up to the Ebster Recreation Center in Decatur last Saturday for a workshop and conversations on community differences in culture, race, age, politics and economic resources, among others. The age range was about 13 to mid-80s, with the majority of participants over 35, and the racial mix mostly reflecting the city overall at 70 percent white, 28 percent black and 2 percent Asian.
Though topics covered haven’t yet been categorized, city spokesperson Casie Yoder said the predominant concern was senior housing and services for seniors Indeed, this reflects city-wide concerns particularly in the last few months given the 20 percent increase in Decatur’s tax digest.
Though an exact date hasn’t been set, the city will likely have another workshop in October.
By year’s end or early next year Decatur hopes to produce a community action plan composed of citizen comments, suggestions and input originating from these workshops. Earlier this year city commissioners approved a $109,000 contract for the Art of Community to help develop the plan.
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