Tonight, the Decatur City Commission will hear a motion (pdf) to defer a vote on annexation until 2011.

While this announcement caught us all off-guard last week, in my opinion, it didn’t come as a total surprise.

Without any solid data on student enrollment figures, the city commission had little choice to defer the motion.  There were many other valid reasons given in the City Manager’s note to the commission on why to wait, and we heard many personal concerns from residents in the annex areas about an increase in taxes and whatnot.  But at the end of the day, the real issue surrounding this yearlong marathon issue was that no one ever provided any revised data that showed the monetary benefits of annexation given the cost of taking on additional students.

The city and all of its residents owe Judd Owen and Pat Herold a hardy “Thanks!” for catching the inconsistencies embedded in Rosser’s student enrollment figures and bringing them to light in a methodical and level-headed way.

No need for me to tell you that today is Inauguration Day in D.C.  Uhh…I think the enormous crowds on the National Mall already kind of hint at that.

But many Decaturites are going to great efforts to tune in…either in person or on T.V.  Here’s a smattering of what I’m talking about…

• As already announced, the DHS Close Up Club had been fundraising since last April to go to the Inaugural and headed out this past weekend.  So far it sounds like the group of 33 students is having a great time touring the nation’s capital.  But obviously, today is the day they’ve all been anticipating.  Hopefully we’ll get a report in from them soon.
• The AsianCajuns are also in D.C. for the festivities, so we expect lots of updates upon their return.
• DHS is changing its schedule today so that students can watch the inauguration from 11:30a-2p.
• Tastings will host an Inauguration Party this evening from 6p-?  Details can be found over on their website.

UPDATE V: One of the 5th Earl owners, David, checks in and promises to come back “stronger and better than before” in the comments section.

UPDATE IV: Ali Laipple has posted a gallery of photos of the damage on her Facebook page.  Click the pic below to view.

h/t: InDecatur

UPDATE III: Paula provides a cell phone pic of the Trackside damage.  Can’t see inside, but windows are shattered and there is definitely a lot of damage…

UPDATE II: According to the Fire Dept, Trackside was destroyed by the fire.  Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne reports…

“The fire department reports that 5th Earl did receive smoke and water damage and additional structural damage because of a shared roof system. Trackside was destroyed. No word on insurance yet or the cause of the fire but we’ll keep you posted and no information about whether there wasmoke damage at Bistro Box or Wiggle. The Decatur community rallied behind our local businesses during similar disasters on Church Street and later at College Avenue and hopefully they will rise to the occassion again.”

See Lyn’s full comment below.

Trackside is a Decatur institution.  I echo Lyn’s hope that we can again pull together to help revive these Decatur businesses.

UPDATE I: Eyewitness reports from residents (in the comments section) seem to indicate that both Trackside and 5th Earl took major hits from this fire.

First on DM…

I’ve gotten two reports this morning thus far about a fire in the Trackside/5th Earl building along College Ave.  Not yet sure which establishments were affected.  Bistro in a Box and Wiggle are also located in that building.

Hope all are safe.

Stay tuned.