City of Decatur, Alabama - Government

10/16/2026

Good conversations help build a stronger Decatur. Thank you to Councilwoman Pam Werstler and the residents who gathered for last night’s District 4 town hall. We appreciate everyone who took the time to connect, ask questions, and stay involved!

In Decatur, We Are Better Together.

10/16/2026

Your lunch break. Your time to stop by.

Beginning Nov. 1, 2026, the City of Decatur Municipal Court Annex will stay open through lunch, making it easier to visit when it fits your schedule.

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with no lunch closure.
Location: 300 Cain Street NE.

In Decatur, We Are Better Together.

10/14/2026

Before You Pay, Call.

The City of Decatur has received reports of suspicious emails and invoices targeting zoning applicants. The messages use Planning Director Chad Bowman’s name, reference application details, and claim payment is needed to move an application forward.

The City of Decatur Planning Department DOES NOT accept or request wire payments or transfers.

The messages direct applicants to reply for wire instructions and communicate only by email. One attached invoice also uses the city’s logo.

Planning staff use email addresses ending in -al.gov, but scammers can disguise sender addresses. Names, logos, and accurate project details do not prove a message is legitimate.

Do not reply, click links, open attachments, or send money before verifying a suspicious request.

Even if the message says to communicate only by email, call Planning directly at 256-341-4720. Do not use contact information provided in the message. A quick call could prevent a costly mistake.

Read more at www.Decatur-AL.gov/News

In Decatur, We Are Better Together.

10/12/2026

Sidewalk access, public safety, and city services. There’s plenty to discuss tonight.

The Decatur City Council meets today, Oct. 12, at 5 p.m. to review the agenda for its Oct. 19 meeting. Join us in the Council Chambers on the first floor of City Hall, 402 Lee St., or watch online through InsideDECATUR.

Discussion items include:

Public safety: A $325,000 federal grant for a police mobile command vehicle, with no city match required, plus a grant application to help purchase protective vests.

Sidewalk accessibility: A proposal for $78,900 in additional funding for accessible sidewalk curb ramps.

Land donations: Two proposed donations totaling about 34 acres, offering opportunities for open space and economic development.

Utility improvements: Preliminary approval of budgeted fiscal 2027 utility projects, including water main improvements, wastewater projects, and electrical equipment.

City services: A proposal to move Street and Traffic, Signs & Markings positions under Environmental Services.

Planning technology: A proposed GovWell software agreement for planning and zoning services.

Other items include employee pay and leave proposals, zoning and annexation matters, and a request for an event center lease.

Tonight’s discussion will help prepare the council for its regular meeting Monday, Oct. 19, at 10 a.m.

Review the agenda and attachments:
https://tinyurl.com/5tfj2ynk

Watch through InsideDECATUR:
https://tinyurl.com/54yx7jsf

In Decatur, We Are Better Together.

10/08/2026

We gave our website a chatty little helper. It’s time we introduced you.

Our Decatur AI Chatbot helps you find information for city services, departments, and more. Look for the chat bubble in the bottom-left corner of Decatur-AL.gov. Click it, ask a question, and put it to work.

Helpful? That’s the goal.
A little personality? Possibly.
And if you happen to uncover a few Easter eggs along the way ... well, somebody in Communications may have had a little fun.

In Decatur, We Are Better Together.

10/07/2026

Your Thursday plans just turned over a new leaf!

Fall fun. Familiar faces. FREE admission. Join Decatur Youth Services tomorrow, Oct. 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. for the Etta Freeman Fall Festival at Rough Rider’s Park, 631 12th Ave. NW.

Bring the family, round up your friends, and enjoy food, games, music, and more as we celebrate the season together.

Come for the fun. Leave with a few new memories.

In Decatur, We Are Better Together.

09/30/2026

Decatur, it’s time to turn it up.

Rock the South starts TOMORROW, bringing four days of country music, big crowds, and one unforgettable weekend to The Fields at Decatur.

Before you head out, follow these pages for the latest festival information:

• Morgan County Tourism for visitor information
• Police Department, Alabama for traffic and public safety updates
• the South for official festival announcements

The stage is set. The countdown is almost over. Let’s show everyone how Decatur rocks.

In Decatur, We Are Better Together.

09/29/2026

Before Rock the South turns up the volume, we’re turning up the clarity.

City leaders, festival organizers, and local and state partners gathered today to discuss traffic, public safety, emergency response, weather preparations, festival operations, and visitor information ahead of Rock the South.

Watch the full media briefing and hear directly from the organizations working behind the scenes on InsideDecatur:

WATCH: https://tinyurl.com/3h78uzjn

In Decatur, We Are Better Together.

09/29/2026

“Decatur remains financially strong, and I am proud of what we accomplished.”

For Mayor Kent Lawrence, developing his first City budget required months of meetings, line-by-line reviews, difficult decisions, and even a few sleepless nights.

That work concluded Monday evening when the Decatur City Council voted 5-0 to approve the City’s $105.47 million FY2027 General Fund budget.

The balanced plan supports public safety, City employees, daily services, new facilities, and more than $5.25 million for nonprofit organizations, partner agencies, and community services.

Read how the budget was built, what drove the increases, and where the money will go at www.Decatur-AL.gov/News

In Decatur, We Are Better Together.

09/28/2026

Rock the South: Decatur Takes the Stage

Rock the South is almost here, and Decatur is preparing to welcome tens of thousands of country music fans for one of the largest events in the city’s history.

At the Fields of Decatur, crews are building stages, preparing campsites, installing utilities, and organizing the services and public safety operations needed to support a crowd the size of a small city.

Our friends at Positively Decatur spoke with festival organizers about the work underway, what fans can expect, and what bringing Rock the South to Decatur means for the community.

Hear from the organizers and see how Rock the South is taking shape in Decatur: https://youtu.be/9DRvC9t8WnQ

In Decatur, We Are Better Together.

Rock the South: Decatur Takes the StageSoon, tens of thousands of...