“S” forwards this announcement from Assistant City Manager Tony Parker…

The City of Decatur will test the new Tornado Outdoor Warning Siren system for installation purposes on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 12 noon. The test will last approximately two minutes.

The first official monthly testing of the system will be held on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 5 p.m. If there is inclement weather that day, the test will be postponed until Thursday, February 4 at 5 p.m.

Going forward the system will be tested on the first Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. The sirens will sound for approximately one minute during each testing.

If you have questions about this or other Emergency Management issues, please contact Tony Parker, Assistant City Manager, Emergency Services, tony.parker@decaturga.com or call 404-370-4102.

…oh wait, that’s “Pedicab.”

What a great creative exercise!  Every two weeks I could come up with a trippy, new pseudo-band name using City Commission meeting topics!  And YOU thought I got this job because I was devilishly handsome.  Ha!

So what exactly is on the agenda for this whacked-out Commission meeting?

Vinyl:  The City Commission will vote on authorizing $38,000 for HVAC improvements and $24,000 for replacing (or just covering over?) the lovely vinyl wall-coverings at the Decatur Conference Center.   This is in preparation of a full-fledged Holiday Inn makeover.

Siren:  The city has received a $108,000 grant from FEMA to install for city-run tornado sirens around the city.  If accepted, that will make 5 total within the city limits, including the existing Agnes Scott siren.  It requires only a 15% match by the city.

Skatepark:  Active Living Director Dan Magee is looking to get the go-ahead to purchase 6 new Spohn Ranch skate park pieces for McCoy’s Skate Park.  Magee has even gotten a thumbs up (or whatever the skateboarder equivalent is) from park users.  The $25,000 cost was already approved in the last fiscal year.

Pedicab:  Probably the most interesting agenda item.  A Wisconsin couple who recently moved here is looking for permission to run a “pedicab”  service in the city similar to the one they operated in Green Bay.  (Here’s what one MIGHT look like.)  Rides would start at $5 and would be free during festivals if they could obtain sponsorships.  There’s also talk about a $10 pedicab tour of Decatur.  The city recommends a six-month trial run and urges haste so the pedicabs are up in running prior to the start of festival season.

And if that weren’t enough!

Other sensational agenda items: David Junger wants 416 Oakland to clean up its act, East Decatur Station wants on-street parking on Sams Street, Amanda Thompson wants to apply for $500,000 energy efficiency grant, and Peggy Merriss wants approval to submit an application for a $360,000 grant that would be used to combat childhood obesity.