https://www.hornfordecatur.org/

Horn for Decatur - David Horn - Decatur City Council, Decatur, IL (2026)

06/14/2026

PLANNING FOR DEVELOPMENT IN DECATUR

The Decatur City Council will likely approve spending $1.12 million to develop four long-term plans with two of the plans focusing on land use and zoning, and two pertaining to water production and supply at the council meeting on June 15.

The city is likely to move forward in creating a new Comprehensive Plan with a projected adoption date of December 2027. The plan can “provide a roadmap for growth, redevelopment, infrastructure investment, housing, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and land use decisions.” The last 10-year comprehensive plan was adopted in 2009 and thus, a new plan is overdue. With that said, the city council does not have a strong record of adopting plans it creates. In July 2025, the city council had a two-day summit using an external facilitator to develop its priority goals. One year later, the city council has never adopted the goals, and the city’s website still highlights the priority goals for 2023-2025.

The city council will likely approve the preparation of a unified development ordinance with a projected adoption date of May 2028. The ordinance will “include a comprehensive review and update of zoning regulations, subdivision standards, development procedures, and other land development regulations …” The last time a comprehensive review of the zoning ordinance was done was 2002. Again, the city of Decatur does not have a strong record of making changes to its zoning code. One of many reasons for the small number of new housing units in the city has been attributed to an antiquated zoning ordinance. Waiting another two years for a revised zoning code may put us further behind.

The creation of a plan to expand the capacity of the city’s South Water Treatment Plant (SWTP) will likely be approved. The city’s SWTP currently has the capacity to treat current water demand and the increase in water demand of Broadwing Energy Center and Fuyao Glass Illinois. However, if new additional water users want to call Decatur home, more capacity of the SWTP is needed. This is one reason that guidelines are needed for possible data centers in Decatur and Macon County prior to such proposals being considered. While some data centers are now closed loop systems that need limited amounts of water, other small to medium data centers use approximately 300,000 gallons per day, while large data centers may require 5 million gallons per day. Thus, whatever the economic benefits data centers might have for Decatur, those benefits are reduced if the city has to upgrade infrastructure to accommodate the development.

The final plan to be created is an update to the city’s alternate water supply study done in 2019. Implementing the 2019 plan was instrumental in the city’s ability to ensure an ample water supply during the drought of 2025-2026. Currently, the city is short 18% in water supply to withstand the worst-case scenario drought and the options for gaining the additional water supply are now limited and expensive. For example, the 2019 estimate to build a pipeline from the former Vulcan pit in Harristown to the SWTP was over $32 million.

Planning is critical for the future of any city, but in Decatur there are no plans for immediate issues facing the city whether it be the development of guidelines for data centers or reducing the number of fires (the city is on a record pace of 468 fires in 2026). Furthermore, residents are correct to be skeptical of the economic benefits to certain infrastructure projects as residents continue to pay disproportionately more relative to use. In 2025, the City of Decatur billed residents $9,587,146 for potable water (26% of city’s water revenue, 9% of Lake Decatur water use), and billed ADM, $1,670,445 for raw water (4% of revenue, 44% of use).

PUBLIC COMMENT ON AIR POLLUTION PERMIT FOR BROADWING ENERGY CENTER

For members of the public wishing to submit written comments associated with Broadwing Energy Center’s air pollution control construction permit with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, comments will be accepted until 11:59 PM on June 22 by email: [email protected] or by mail to: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Community Relations, MC #5, Attn: Jeff Guy, Hearing Officer, P.O. Box 19276, Springfield, IL 62794-9276. As per the Notice of Public Comment Period and Public Hearing, “Based on the review of the application the Illinois EPA has made a preliminary determination that this project will comply with the applicable air pollution control regulations and has prepared a draft construction permit/PSD Approval for public review and comment.”

CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

The next meeting of the Decatur City Council will take place on Monday, June 15 at 5:30 PM in the council chambers located on the third floor of the Decatur Civic Center (1 Gary K. Anderson Place). Free parking is available in the lot immediately south of the entrance. Citizens are encouraged to attend meetings and express their views. Citizens are allotted 3 minutes per person near the beginning of each city council meeting. In addition, citizens can provide comments regarding one regular agenda item per meeting for up to three minutes provided they notify the city in advance (and prior to the start of the meeting). You can request to speak on a particular agenda item at a council meeting by filling out an on-line form at: https://www.decaturil.gov/FormCenter/Mayor-Council-11/Advance-Request-to-Speak-at-Council-Meet-60.

AGENDAS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE

An agenda and information about each agenda item for each city council meeting can be found at: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/.

CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

If you would like to discuss city issues with a council member, phone numbers and email addresses for each council member can be found at the following link: https://www.decaturil.gov/300/Mayor-Council.

06/11/2026

DECATUR IS THE PLACE FOR SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Last weekend brought multiple signature events to Decatur and Macon County including Hardy’s Race for the Lake and the 170th annual Macon County Fair. Activities at the Scovill Zoo, Overlook Adventure Park, Splash Cove Aquatic Center, Lincoln Square Theater, and the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater are now in full swing and will attract thousands of visitors. Simultaneously, weekly and monthly events are moving forward including farmers markets at Central Park, Preston Jackson Park, and Richland Community College and the 169th annual Decatur Municipal Band concert season. For those who want to explore mother nature, the Macon County Conservation District offers miles of hiking trails through prairie, forest, and wetland habitats, Lake Decatur offers boating including boat rentals, fishing and walks along the beautiful shoreline, and there are miles of bike paths in the city.

For history buffs, Decatur is home to several museums including the Staley Museum, Hieronymus Mueller Museum, and African-American Cultural & Genealogical Society of Illinois. Open houses are an opportunity to visit historic sites such as the Governor Richard Oglesby Mansion and Millikin Homestead. For art lovers, First Friday Gallery Walks at the Madden Arts Center, Blue Connection Gallery, and Gallery 510 are a must see. Family-friendly activities in the city include a trip to the Children’s Museum of Illinois, participating in summer programs at the Decatur Public Library, and spending time at the numerous neighborhood parks maintained by the Decatur Park District. Plus, a visit to Decatur would not be complete without a trip to downtown including Merchant St. which has wonderful opportunities for shopping and fine dining.

One new summer activity that has come to our city is the baseball team, the Decatur Bean Ballers playing at Millikin University’s Workman Family Baseball Field. For those wanting a family-friendly evening featuring some of the best college baseball players, the Bean Ballers are the ticket. Cheer on your hometown team which features multiple players from this year’s Millikin University CCIW championship team and before the game visit the Oakwood Business District which features many restaurants and shops.

Whatever your interest, whether you are a lifelong resident or visiting our fine city for the first time, Decatur has something for you this summer. Have a wonderful summer in the Soy City.

What is your favorite summertime activity in Decatur?

06/10/2026

THANK YOU DECATUR FIRE FIGHTERS

I want to thank the men and women of the Decatur Fire Department for the work you do every day to protect the lives, safety, and property of our citizens. Decatur residents are very fortunate to have such dedicated and courageous public servants. Thank you for your tremendous service to our city and keep up the great work. I also want to thank the fire fighters from Battalion 1 Station 1 for having me on a ride along on Tuesday. It was wonderful to see firsthand the amazing work that you do.

The Decatur Fire Department is outstanding, and our fire fighters are doing incredible work. As of April 2026, the fire department had responded to 4,722 alarms, a near record pace. In addition, fire fighters responded to 160 fires YTD through April, averaging more than one fire call per day. The number of fires in Decatur is substantially greater than those of other central Illinois cities.

The City of Decatur can do more for our fire fighters by providing additional opportunities for training. For example, at the end of April, there were 24 derelict properties in the city that were under contract for demolition. These properties are coming down soon, and before they come down, they could be used to provide fire fighters with training opportunities in a non-emergency environment so they have the practice necessary when the fire call comes in. For example, venting the roofs of soon-to-be demolished buildings provides valuable, hands-on experience for our fire fighters while simultaneously keeping these properties secure from trespassers immediately prior to the building’s demolition. Other cities such as Danville already have similar programs.

With Decatur averaging a fire a day, more training and preparation can only make an already excellent group of fire fighters that much better. This in turn means a city where the lives, safety, and property of our city residents are better protected.

06/08/2026

DATA CENTERS IN DECATUR – GUIDELINES ARE NEEDED PRIOR TO DEVELOPMENT

A developer in Decatur has indicated that their property is ready for a data center. The City of Decatur, on the other hand, is not data center ready as there are no guidelines for these facilities. Having guidelines for the construction, maintenance, and decommissioning of data centers is the responsibility of the City and until guidelines are established and approved by the Decatur City Council, proposals for data center should not be reviewed.

Other local municipalities are taking a similar approach. Recently, the Macon County Zoning Board of Appeals voted for a 12-month moratorium on data centers so that guidelines could be developed. This moratorium will ultimately need to be approved by the Macon County Board to take effect. Multiple Decatur City Council members including Councilman Cooper and Horn have requested that a formal discussion of a data center moratorium be placed on the city council agenda so that the city can proactively mitigate problems identified in other communities in guidelines to be established. From my perspective, a pause in reviewing data centers is not about how long it lasts, rather it is about establishing guidelines that protect safety, provide economic benefits, and have environmental protections over the long term. Furthermore, the City of Decatur and Macon County have an opportunity to collaborate on the development of joint guidelines for data centers for the consequences of data centers can impact everyone on the electric grid.

PROS AND CONS TO DATA CENTERS

Municipalities throughout Illinois are debating whether to permit large data centers. On one hand, data centers will bring with them economic benefits such as construction jobs, permanent jobs, property tax revenue, and utility tax revenue. On the other hand, data centers use a significant amount of energy, and there are concerns such as noise pollution and water consumption. The need for data centers is rising as use of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data storage increases, and thus, if one municipality bans large data centers, the data center may simply move to an adjacent area. When that happens, the municipality that hosts the data center receives the economic benefits, while the energy demand of the data center continues to be spread across the grid.

WHY NOW?

Decatur residents are justified in concluding that a data center proposal is coming to the city. As reported on January 13, 2026 by the Decatur Tribune, the “2500 North Commerce Park in Decatur has been selected to participate in the Accelerated Site Assessment Program (ASAP) in cooperation with Ameren, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Decatur EDA …The 138-acre campus is fully approved and earmarked to support up to 274 megawatts and over 800,000 SF of space devoted exclusively for data center development offering a rare, power-ready opportunity for energy-intensive operations seeking scalability and speed to market.”

Whether one is supportive of data centers or is opposed to data centers, having approved guidelines is good governance. Residents must be assured that natural resources such as water are protected, that electricity prices do not go up as a result of the large energy demand of data centers, and that residents and workers near the data centers are protected from the noise they generate. Because numerous municipalities already have data centers, the city can learn from those experiences in crafting guidelines.

What do you think? Should the Decatur City Council pause review of any data center proposals until it approves guidelines for their construction, operation, and decommissioning?

06/02/2026

DAVID HORN IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF DECATUR

Dr. David J. Horn will be seeking election for Mayor of Decatur. Dr. Horn has proudly served on the Decatur City Council since May 2017. For the last nine years, David has been a resident-centered city council member focused on improving where we live and enhancing quality of life for all. His priorities as Mayor will include public safety, job creation, neighborhood revitalization, and reversing population decline.

Councilman Horn voted against increasing property taxes and voted no to unnecessary spending. David voted against more gambling establishments in the city and is opposed to carbon sequestration under Lake Decatur. David voted for economic development opportunities and a cannabis dispensary. He is a strong proponent of giving residents a voice in decision making, working collaboratively with other governmental bodies to achieve shared goals, and utilizing local labor.

Councilman Horn received the 2023 Advocate of the Year award from the Macon County Continuum of Care. One of the nominators wrote “Councilman David Horn is a standup citizen and does not back down from doing what is right for those without a voice.” Another wrote: “He is not afraid to stand up for an unpopular viewpoint when it has the city’s residents’ best interests at heart.”

Since being elected in 2017, Councilman Horn has attended every city council meeting, participated in hundreds of community events and meetings, and made himself easily accessible via phone (217-358-5003), e-mail ([email protected]), and social media (hornfordecatur.org or facebook.com/hornfordecatur). Through social media, he provides timely information on topics to be discussed at council meetings and is transparent regarding his views on city issues. David is committed to responding to every correspondence he receives.

Councilman Horn moved to Decatur in 2005 and resides in the West End neighborhood with his life partner Mary Garrison. Horn, age 54, recently completed his 21st year as a biology professor at Millikin University. David’s combination of skills and experiences within the areas of science, education, government, and private industry has allowed him to effectively serve Decatur residents the past nine years. He is ready to continue his work with citizens and organizations to grow our city as Mayor.

05/30/2026

$3.8 MILLION IN ROAD IMPROVEMENTS COMING TO DECATUR

The Decatur City Council will be approving $3,815,000 in State Motor Fuel Tax funds at its next meeting to improve three streets in Decatur: N. Monroe St. (Eldorado St. to Sawyer St.), E. Cantrell St. (Jasper St. to 22nd St.) and E. William St. (26th St. to IL Rt. 105). The road work will include mill and overlay work, patching, and ADA ramp improvements. The project will rehabilitate 6.2 lane miles of the city’s 850 total lane miles (0.7%). The spending of the $3.8 million is in addition to the $3.1 million in Local Motor Fuel Tax funds that was approved at the April 6, 2026 meeting to rehabilitate 10 lane miles.

DECATUR ROADS ARE IN WORST CONDITION SINCE AT LEAST 2004

The city scores its roads using a PASER rating (0-10 scale). In 2004, the PASER rating was 6.13. In 2025, it was 3.98. Since 2015, the PASER rating has been in a steady, slow decline ranging from 4.2 to 3.98. Annual spending on roads since 2015 has ranged from $1.67 million to $6.42 million, and asphalt cost per ton has ranged from $128.10 to $145.08. Said another way, since 2015, the city has been able to maintain its roads in a steady, slow decline state, but does not have the financial resources to make substantial improvements in the PASER rating unless additional funds are found.

WILL LARGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FUND LOCAL ROAD IMPROVEMENTS?

Road improvements are generally funded by state and local motor fuel taxes collected when one purchases gasoline or diesel. Given that Decatur residents already pay one of the highest property tax rates in the U.S. and water rates for residents are disproportionately high relative to use, the city must look for other sources of revenue. Whether the customers of Broadwing Energy Center, Google and ADM, are subject to the city’s municipal gas use tax will be a significant factor in whether the city will have the funds to substantially improve our local roads (residents already pay the gas use tax and it would be unfair for the largest buyers of energy not to). Four months since the approval of the Broadwing agreement, city staff still do not know whether Google and ADM will be subject to the municipal gas use tax.

IS A MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS COMING TO MACON COUNTY?

The Macon County Zoning Board of Appeals will be discussing the possibility of a 6-month moratorium on data centers at its meeting on Wednesday, June 3 at 8:30 AM. The meeting is currently scheduled at the Macon County Office Building, 5th floor board room. There will be a public comment period at the meeting.
Multiple city council members including Councilman Cooper and Horn have requested that a formal discussion of a moratorium be placed on the city council agenda. One reason for a moratorium is to allow city staff time to develop guidelines for data centers in order to proactively mitigate problems identified in other communities.

Decatur residents are justified in concluding that a data center proposal is coming to the city. As reported on January 13, 2026 by the Decatur Tribune, the “2500 North Commerce Park in Decatur has been selected to participate in the Accelerated Site Assessment Program (ASAP) in cooperation with Ameren, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Decatur EDA …The 138-acre campus is fully approved and earmarked to support up to 274 megawatts and over 800,000 SF of space devoted exclusively for data center development offering a rare, power-ready opportunity for energy-intensive operations seeking scalability and speed to market.”

TOUCH-A-TRUCK EVENT MONDAY, JUNE 1 FROM 4-6 PM

Decatur’s Public Works Department is hosting an equipment show at the Decatur Civic Center from 4 – 6 PM on Monday, June 1. Vehicles at the show will include a grapple truck, tree truck, backhoe, end loader, street sweeper, dump truck, hammer truck, valve truck and hydro excavator. The vehicles will be open for children and adults alike to climb inside and explore. Come on out, touch the trucks, and thank our Public Works employees for their service to our community.

CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

The next meeting of the Decatur City Council will take place on Monday, June 1 at 5:30 PM in the council chambers located on the third floor of the Decatur Civic Center (1 Gary K. Anderson Place). Free parking is available in the lot immediately south of the entrance. Citizens are encouraged to attend meetings and express their views. Citizens are allotted 3 minutes per person near the beginning of each city council meeting. In addition, citizens can provide comments regarding one regular agenda item per meeting for up to three minutes provided they notify the city in advance (and prior to the start of the meeting). You can request to speak on a particular agenda item at a council meeting by filling out an on-line form at: https://www.decaturil.gov/FormCenter/Mayor-Council-11/Advance-Request-to-Speak-at-Council-Meet-60.

AGENDAS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE

An agenda and information about each agenda item for each city council meeting can be found at: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/.

CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

If you would like to discuss city issues with a council member, phone numbers and email addresses for each council member can be found at the following link: https://www.decaturil.gov/300/Mayor-Council.

05/28/2026

FIRES IN DECATUR CONTINUE TO RISE

The number of fires in Decatur has increased 36% between January-April 2026 when there were 160 fires compared to January-April 2025 when there were 118 fires. At this rate, the city will have 480 fires in 2026. By way of comparison, Decatur had 355 fires in 2025, 372 in 2024, 244 in 2023, 243 in 2022 and 259 in 2021. Decatur historically has more fires than other central Illinois cities and it is concerning to see the number of fires rise 37% in five years.

One of multiple explanations for the large rise in number of fires is that the city has a large number of vacant structures. As of February 2024, Decatur was estimated to have between 4,000-5,200 vacant properties and of those properties between 500-1,000 may be at risk. If a recent study done in New York is applicable to Decatur, 1 in 3 structure fires are taking place in abandoned buildings. With many people experiencing housing insecurity, some may seek vacant housing for shelters. Some individuals may be vandalizing homes and burning copper wire. Others may use vacant properties for criminal activity such as storage of contraband or use as a drug house. These vacant properties are not spontaneously combusting, and human activity is playing a role in the fires.

The presence of derelict, vacant properties is a public safety issue, and It is reasonable to conclude that residents do not feel safe when they live next to a burnt down house or abandoned property. As one of multiple examples throughout the city, a burnt down property on S. Oakland Ave. has remained standing since it burnt down over 15 months ago in February 2025. Residents are right to be frustrated about how long it takes to remove dangerous structures. Leaving these derelict structures standing for long periods of time may threaten the city’s reputation by weakening public perception of safety and lowering confidence in the city’s ability to enhance neighborhoods.

Decatur has already demonstrated that crime is reduced, and quality of life increases, when blight is removed and neighborhoods are improved. For example, the city received a $1.25 million grant from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation in 2020 to fund demolitions, cleanups, and lot acquisitions in the Johns Hill Neighborhood. The neighborhood experienced a substantial reduction in crime since the neighborhood was improved (36% reduction in the count of offenses in July-June 2022-2023 vs. July-June 2018-2019), and a large increase in civic engagement that is critical to building the community. Multiple national studies have verified that the removal of blight and the creation of green spaces can result in a reduction in gun violence.

Reducing the number of fires can be achieved. Technology such as GIS is available to map the 1,473 fires in Decatur from 2021-2025 and fires are categorized by type. Thus, the city can identify if there are certain areas of the city that are more vulnerable to certain types of fires and introduce specific remediation measures. Thus, the City of Decatur can take a more proactive approach to reducing the number of fires. For example, while the city has adopted a 2026-2029 Community Revitalization plan, there appears to be no known connection between the neighborhoods that revitalization efforts are focused on and which neighborhoods are experiencing more fires. As the city identifies those neighborhoods with high levels of fire these neighborhoods can be added to the revitalization plan.

I want to thank the men and women of the Decatur Fire Department for the work you do every day to protect the lives, safety, and property of our citizens. Decatur residents are very fortunate to have such dedicated and courageous public servants. Thank you for your tremendous service to our city and keep up the great work.

05/27/2026

IS A RACINO A GAME CHANGER FOR DECATUR?

Pending approval by the state legislature, Decatur could be home to a new, privately funded casino and horse racing complex called a racino. The racino would be located at the northwest corner of U.S. 36 and Wyckles Rd. The casino is to include 900 gambling positions and harness racing would take place around a one-mile track.

REASONS TO SUPPORT A RACINO

It has been argued that a racino would be a game changer for the City of Decatur. It is expected that this $150 million economic development project will bring 300 permanent jobs and 1,000 visitors to the Decatur area each day and generate $27 million annually in state and local tax revenue. Gambling is extremely popular and widespread in Decatur, and a racino will bring a state-of-the-art complex to our city. The facility could also include a sports complex, hotel, and other amenities. People visiting the racino will stay overnight here, dine in area restaurants, and buy city gas. Additionally, it will add another tourist destination to Decatur which already has Lake Decatur, the downtown shopping district, and outstanding entertainment venues.

Having a harness racing track could spark a statewide horse racing renaissance with Decatur at the forefront. A new racetrack in Decatur means more people employed in this industry from veterinarians to breeders. Decatur will rightfully be known as the gaming capital of Illinois and a regional entertainment hub. More visitors, more jobs, and a more diverse economy is a win for Decatur that can change the city’s trajectory, and as the racino grows in popularity, so will more entertainment opportunities, furthering economic growth.

REASONS TO OPPOSE A RACINO

Decatur already has a gambling problem. Between May 2025 – April 2026, the city had 85 gambling establishments containing 497 slot machines. During that 12-month period, gamblers lost $48.5 million with the annual per capita gambling loss in Decatur being >$700 per year. A large amount of the gambling loss is money being transferred from poorer individuals to large businesses that are based outside of Decatur. As per the May 20, 2025 cover story in Barron’s, millions of people live with gambling addictions that are “associated with higher rates of suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, economic insecurity, substance abuse, unemployment, homelessness, and crime.” Is a city with a poverty rate of 19.4% ready to address additional addiction, bankruptcy, and crime associated with gambling?

Horse racing is a declining industry. Why should we expect a Decatur racino to reverse that trend? While many individuals find horse racing to be exciting, others are strongly opposed to racing horses noting the risk of horse death. It is also unclear whether the company developing the racino, Revolutionary Racing, will be asking for any local funds to construct the facility. Apparently, the company has pledged not to request any state funds, but the same pledge has not been made to the city council (this assumes the land is annexed into the city).

DO REVENUES OFFSET SOCIETAL COSTS?

The 2024 Lancet Public Health Commission on gambling may summarize the pros and cons of a racino best: “While governments readily appreciate revenues from the gambling industry …, they generally underestimate the prevalence and seriousness of social harm done and the associated public costs.”

What do you think? Should the Decatur City Council support the development of a racino?

05/20/2026

SHOULD DATA CENTERS BE ALLOWED IN DECATUR?

Municipalities throughout Illinois are debating whether to permit large data centers. On one hand, data centers will bring with them economic benefits such as construction jobs, permanent jobs, property tax revenue, and utility tax revenue. On the other hand, data centers use a significant amount of energy, and there are concerns such as noise pollution and water consumption. The need for data centers is rising as use of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data storage increases, and thus, if one municipality bans large data centers, the data center may simply move to an adjacent area. When that happens, the municipality that hosts the data center receives the economic benefits, while the energy demand of the data center continues to be spread across the grid. Putting in place a moratorium on data centers provides municipalities with the necessary time to put in place ordinances that establish standards for data centers including where they can be located, the creation of a decommissioning plan, and establishes protections to the public from some of their negative consequences such as noise.

What do you think? Should the City of Decatur issue a moratorium on data centers?

IS A MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS COMING TO MACON COUNTY?

The Macon County Zoning Board of Appeals will be discussing the possibility of a 6-month moratorium on data centers at its meeting on Wednesday, June 3 at 8:30 AM. The meeting is currently scheduled at the Macon County Office Building, 5th floor board room. There will be a public comment period at the meeting.

I thank the Macon County Board for their leadership in discussing this issue, as these topics are generally not discussed publicly by the Decatur City Council. For by a 4 to 3 vote, with Councilmembers Dennis Cooper, Consuelo Cruz, and David Horn opposed, the majority of council members supported continuing a long-standing city council policy that for an item to be placed on a meeting agenda, it requires the consent of the mayor, city manager, or 4 of the 6 remaining council members. In other words, even to formally discuss a moratorium on data centers at a council meeting, you need to have the majority of the council agree to have it on the agenda.

BROADWING ENERGY CENTER PUBLIC HEARING

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will be hosting a public hearing on the planned issuance of an air pollution control construction permit for the Broadwing Energy Center, a proposed natural gas-fired powerplant. The facility would be on N. Brush College Rd. and would generate both electricity and steam. The hearing will take place on Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 PM at the Macon County Fairgrounds, Pride of the Prairie Center, 3700 N. Westlawn Ave. in Decatur. As per the Notice of Public Comment Period and Public Hearing, “Based on the review of the application the Illinois EPA has made a preliminary determination that this project will comply with the applicable air pollution control regulations and has prepared a draft construction permit/PSD Approval for public review and comment.”

Horn for Decatur - David Horn - Decatur City Council

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