Prior to the Decatur City Commission’s discussion and vote last night to hand over the eight remaining Decatur schools to the school system, a resident stood up and asked that the vote be delayed so that – due to the lack of park land in the city’s southeast quadrant – the Commissioners could consider retaining part of Winnona Park Elementary’s field for a city park.

That concern was later acknowledged at the end of the commission’s discussion of the issue, but never really openly considered.  The major concern discussed at last night’s meeting was a single condition in the city/school agreement regarding the potential sale of a school property in the future.  (see #4 on page 20 of last night’s meeting materials)

Commissioner Jim Baskett reiterated many times that he didn’t understand why the city would agree to only receive proceeds from the sale of a school property in the future AFTER debt obligation had been paid off, since the City Commission would have no control over how much debt the School Board decided to take out on a property.

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