https://www.hornfordecatur.org/

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

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.”

05/16/2026

DECATUR POPULATION FALLS BELOW 68,000. THERE IS NO PLAN TO REVERSE THE DECLINE

Decatur’s population decreased by 879 individuals between July 1, 2025, when the population was 67,884 and July 1, 2024, when the population was 68,763 according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The population has fallen 3.7% since April 1, 2020 when it was 70,522 and fallen 10.8% since April 1, 2010 when it was 76,122, a decrease of 8,238 individuals. Decatur’s labor force is also declining. According to Illinois Department of Employment Security data, the monthly labor force in Decatur averaged 36,719 in 2010, 31,092 in 2020, and 29,197 in 2025 (a decrease of 7,522 individuals, 20.5% decrease).

One reason that is often cited for population declines is high property tax rates. Macon County, IL had the 8th highest effective property tax rate in the U.S. in 2024 at 2.06% (the national average is 0.86%) according to ATTOM. Furthermore, over 40% of Macon County residents do not make enough income to make ends meet.

While there are many reasons why the population is declining, including high property tax rates, what is lacking is a unified plan to reverse the trend. In other words, while there may be good communication between members of the Decatur City Council and Decatur Public Schools, these two governmental bodies are not formally working together in any meaningful way that will reverse the decline.

As another example, the Decatur City Council recently approved a 2026-2029 Revitalization Plan. Unfortunately, this plan does not offer solutions at the magnitude necessary to reverse long-standing declines in population and labor force. One of the few entities that has formally studied city demographics is Decatur Public Schools, publishing a Demographics and Enrollment Projection Study in December 2025. Unfortunately, the revitalization plan does not reference the demographics study, nor does it even list the school district as a partner in revitalization.

Decatur has several notable differences in areas such as education, economy, income, and housing compared to IL and the U.S. (using U.S. Census Bureau data from 2020-2024). In regards to education, the percent of persons 25 and older with a high school degree or higher is similar in Decatur (91.7%) compared to IL (90.5%), and the U.S. (89.6%). However, the percent of Decatur residents 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher is smaller (21.6%) compared to IL (37.8%) and U.S. (35.7%).

As it pertains to the economy and income, the percentage of the population 16 and older in the labor force is lower in Decatur (56.2%) compared to IL (64.8%) and the U.S. (63.0%). The percentage of females in the population 16 and older in the labor force is also lower in Decatur (54.2%) compared to IL (60.6%) and the U.S. (58.8%). Simultaneously, median household income is lower in Decatur ($51,592) compared to IL ($83,390) and the U.S. ($80,734). The 19.4% poverty rate in Decatur is greater than the national (10.6%) and state (11.6%) averages.

In Decatur, both housing values and the number of owner-occupied housing units are lower than national and state averages. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $332,700 in the U.S., $263,300 in IL, and $99,600 in Decatur. Owner-occupied housing unit rates are 65.2% in the U.S., 67.1% in IL, and 62.9% in Decatur.

NEXT MAYORAL AND CITY COUNCIL ELECTION IS APRIL 6, 2027

The upcoming election is an opportunity for residents to elect a mayor and council members who will focus on solving the city’s long-standing problems through a transparent, collaborative approach. I am confident that one individual that will be running for mayor (a formal announcement is coming soon) will work with other elected representatives and city residents to grow the city’s population and improve the quality of life for all who call Decatur home.

05/14/2026

DECATUR BANS CANNABIS DISPENSARIES. THE CITY IS LOSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

The village of Mt. Zion announced that a new cannabis dispensary is under construction. This will become the third dispensary is Macon County joining Forsyth and Harristown. Meanwhile, in Decatur where dispensaries will soon surround the city, the council’s ban on dispensaries and other cannabis-related businesses continues.

Given the success of other area dispensaries, it is reasonable to predict that Mt. Zion will be gaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual revenue. It is also reasonable to predict that with a population in Decatur of 68,763 compared to Mt. Zion’s population of 5,897, Decatur residents will likely represent a large proportion of the dispensary’s customers. Thus, discretionary funds and subsequent tax revenue of Decatur residents will be transferred from the poorer city (median household income = $51,592) to the more prosperous village of Mt. Zion (median household income = $103,365). The loss of tax revenue for Decatur is not solely a result of people purchasing cannabis. Many of the county’s best restaurants and shopping opportunities are in the villages. Thus, Decatur residents will not only be able to buy cannabis, but while there, they can conveniently shop and dine further transferring discretionary spending and subsequent tax revenue from the city.

The city council should have reversed its decision prohibiting dispensaries and other cannabis-related businesses years ago. Since adult-use cannabis has been legalized over five years ago, the Decatur City Council has taken only one formal vote on whether to allow dispensaries, and only one council member (yours truly) has ever formally voted yes for a dispensary in the city (Councilman Cooper has also routinely expressed support for a cannabis dispensary in the city). Residents of our city have also had long-standing support for a dispensary. On March 17, 2020, residents of Decatur Township (which comprises ~70% of Decatur residents) voted in an advisory referendum on whether the city should allow the sale of cannabis and cannabis-infused products to individuals over 21. There were 5,382 ballots cast with 62% voting yes and 38% voting no.

It is unclear what the arguments are for requiring Decatur residents to drive to Forsyth, Harristown, or Mt. Zion to purchase a legal product. The city is simply losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue each year to nearby municipalities, prohibiting a retail destination that could be a catalyst for people to visit the city’s other fantastic small businesses, and inconveniencing its citizens. Furthermore, whatever the negative consequences to these legal sales may be, they will be in Decatur where the cannabis is used as opposed to the location where the cannabis is sold.

NEXT MAYORAL AND CITY COUNCIL ELECTION IS APRIL 6, 2027

Three of the individuals who have voted to prohibit cannabis dispensaries are up for re-election in 2027 including the mayor and two council members. In addition, the same three individuals have not supported even having a formal agenda item to discuss the pros and cons to a dispensary in the city. For a city within a county with the 8th highest effective property tax rate in the United States, the city council should focus on revenue streams that can reduce the tax burden on residents. By banning cannabis dispensaries, Decatur is giving away millions of dollars in revenue to municipalities that are already better off while not solving any of the city’s long-standing problems.

The upcoming election is an opportunity for residents to elect a mayor and council members who will vote for cannabis dispensaries and other economic development projects that create new revenue streams for the city that can reduce the tax burden on residents. I am confident that one individual that will be running for mayor (a formal announcement is coming soon) will support having cannabis dispensaries in the city.

05/05/2026

RENTING IN DECATUR: WHAT DO RENTERS AND LANDLORDS WANT IMPROVED?

A community forum on renting in the city will take place on Monday, May 11 at 5:30 PM on the 1st floor Madden Auditorium of the Decatur Public Library. The listening session on “Renting in Decatur” will provide the public with an opportunity to share experiences and propose recommendations for renting in the city. For many years, renters have expressed concerns about the conditions of some properties they have rented and are frustrated that repairs are not getting done. Landlords have expressed concerns about renters that leave properties in disrepair and who do not pay their water bills, leaving landlords with bills in the hundreds of dollars. There have also been longstanding frustrations expressed by residents about Wabash Crossing including abandoned units and maintenance issues.

How can the City of Decatur become involved in ensuring that tenants have housing that meets building and occupancy codes, and landlords are ensured that their properties are not destroyed by tenants and that utility bills are being paid? This community forum is part of the “Council Connections” series which provides an opportunity for discussion of critical issues impacting residents. Two Decatur City Council members alternate hosting the public forums. Everyone is welcome to attend, and we hope to see you there.

WHY CAN’T A DISCUSSION ON RENTING IN DECATUR TAKE PLACE AT A COUNCIL MEETING?

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 city issue at a council meeting, you need to have the majority of the council agree to have it on the agenda. The May 11th community forum gives residents the opportunity to express their views and be heard. See you next Monday.

CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

If you would like to discuss this or other 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.

05/03/2026

SHOULD THE DECATUR CITY COUNCIL BECOME FORMALLY INVOLVED IN STATE LEGISLATION?

During the COVID pandemic, the Decatur City Council was silent on state mandates. During deliberations of the SAFE-T Act, the council did not interject during deliberations. The council continues to remain silent in discussions of gambling revenues which disproportionately go to the state while local municipalities deal with the negative consequences.

At the next Decatur City Council meeting, the council will consider a change in its operational approach to state issues through a formal resolution opposing the state’s BUILD initiatives. According to the memo provided to the council, BUILD aims “to assist current housing shortage and affordability issues in the state by overhauling the residential zoning laws in Illinois and include statewide zoning standards such as minimum lot sizes, allowance of dwellings in accessory buildings, elimination of parking requirements based on number of occupants …” and other changes. Entities opposed to the BUILD initiative argue that “municipalities are unique and different and should be able to make zoning and land use decisions that fit their individual communities” and “that the BUILD proposals infringe on and preempt home rule communities’ authority …”

Whatever each city council member’s stance on these issues, council members and our residents already have multiple avenues to lobby our state legislators including phone calls, emails, letters, meetings with representatives, and participation at public hearings. Thus, the question for the city council is why lobby on this initiative, while remaining silent on other issues that preempt home rule authority and impact the safety and well-being of our residents? Ironically, the resolution is in opposition to a state initiative designed to increase the amount of available housing, a significant challenge for Decatur. According to the Decatur Public Schools Demographics and Enrollment Projection Study published in December 2025, between 1999-2024, the City of Decatur issued 1,867 residential building permits. Of those permits, 51 have been issued since 2015 (2.7%). Of the 18,524 housing units within the boundary of Decatur Public Schools with a known date of construction, only 0.5% have been built after 2013. Decatur has a lack of available housing, and it is difficult to conclude that this lack of housing availability is not in part a result of the city’s land use and zoning regulations. For example, on multiple occasions, businesses have complained about the city’s parking space requirements.

If the city council wants to formally lobby the state, perhaps the staff should start by drafting a resolution to the appropriate state and federal authorities that the owners of Wabash Crossing must make improvements to their properties so that they are brought up to code and occupancy is increased. Otherwise, it appears that the city council is opposing a state initiative whose goal appears to address a problem the city has experienced for years.

What do you think? Should the Decatur City Council begin passing resolutions associated with state legislation?

RENTING IN DECATUR

A community forum on renting in the city will take place on Monday, May 11 at 5:30 PM on the 1st floor Madden Auditorium of the Decatur Public Library. The listening session on “Renting in Decatur” will provide the public with an opportunity to share experiences and propose recommendations for renting in the city. This community forum is part of the “Council Connections” series which provides an opportunity for discussion of critical issues impacting residents. This forum is timely given the recent frustrations expressed by residents about Wabash Crossing including abandoned units and maintenance issues. Two Decatur City Council members alternate hosting the public forums. Everyone is welcome to attend and we hope to see you there.

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.” More information about the project and proposed permit can be found at: https://epa.illinois.gov/public-notices/boa-notices.html.

CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

The next meeting of the Decatur City Council will take place on Monday, May 4 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.

Horn for Decatur - David Horn - Decatur City Council

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