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The Herald & Review Archives
Herald & Review (Decatur, IL)
October 12, 2007
Section: News
Page: A3
MIKE FRAZIER H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR - Members of Change Decatur say they have more than enough signatures to allow voters to decide next year whether to change the form of Decatur city government. The group dropped off petitions Thursday afternoon at the office of Macon County Circuit Clerk Kathy Hott. Change Decatur seeks to replace the city manager and council form of government with a strong mayor and aldermanic system. The city currently is served by six council members, who are elected at large to represent the entire community. Under Change Decatur’s plan, the community would be carved into wards represented by aldermen. The new council could include as many as 21 members. The change would eliminate the position of an unelected city manager and make the government more accountable to all residents, supporters say. The elected mayor would serve as the city’s chief executive officer, under Change Decatur’s plan. County Clerk Steve Bean said the group looks as if it has "more than enough" signatures to get the issue on the ballot. The group needed to collect about 670 signatures and has collected more than 1,500. The group will be given a court date and a circuit judge will determine whether to allow the issue on the February primary ballot. Organizers of Change Decatur say they are heartened by the community’s response to their petition drive. "The response has been pretty overwhelming," organizer Brian Burcham said. Change Decatur soon will launch an educational campaign about its effort and is eager to talk with community groups, organizer Steve Daniels said. Many residents think the current form of city government is not adequately representing all of the community, Daniels said. Residents cited a recent decision by the Decatur City Council to buy the financially distressed Decatur Conference Center and Hotel as evidence of problems with the current form of government, Daniels said. Community members say that the current city government "seems to be able to react to well-connected people, but it doesn’t seem to be able to address the concerns of people living up and down the streets of Decatur," Daniels said. The group tried unsuccessfully last year to allow voters to decide whether to change the form of city government. More than 500 signatures the group collected in its last petition drive were not valid, according to a review by the county clerk’s office. "We have been quite a bit more careful with these petitions," Daniels said. Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com or 421-7985.
Copyright, 2007, Herald & Review, Decatur, IL
