At our first City Commission meeting in January, we reviewed some of the City’s accomplishments over the past year. I had to choose from a long list list – we indeed have many reasons to be proud of Decatur!
- The City and City Schools of Decatur agreed to participate in a joint maintenance facility and we did a joint bid for office supplies; Fifth Avenue Academy opened.
- The City Commission adopted a second ten-year strategic plan which was the result of a year-long planning process with input from over 1500 individuals.
- Standard and Poor’s upgraded the City’s rating from AA to AA+ and Moody’s Investors Service confirmed the City rating of Aa3.
- CCP Games has leased 40,000 square feet in the Renaissance Building and is relocating its North American Headquarters to Decatur.
- Real estate property digest remained flat from 2010 but values from 2011 exceeded 2008 values by 3%; sales of existing housing stock increased 13% in 2011 and permit and inspection fees increased 76%.
- The City secured grant funding for the N McDonough Streetscape improvement project as well as for Clairemont/CommerceChurch St Pedestrian Safety and Bicycle improvements.
- Crime rate was down by 3%.
- The former Holiday Inn was sold to Noble Investment group and the hotel will re-open in February as a Courtyard by Marriott.
- Through its recycling efforts, the City has reduced landfill deposits by approximately 41% and the two electronics recycling events resulted in 57 tons of electronic equipment being recycled.
10. Decatur was designated a Tree City USA and received a Silver Walk Friendly Community designation from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Center.
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