Meeting Summary for Decatur Island Alliance July Meeting: July 20, 2025

Quick recap

The meeting covered various committee updates and plans, including advocacy efforts, communication initiatives, and discussions about establishing a formal governance structure with bylaws. The group addressed several infrastructure and maintenance issues, focusing on road conditions, parking concerns, and the installation of a community bulletin board, while also reviewing ongoing negotiations with OPALCO regarding solar energy projects. The conversation ended with updates on property transactions and maintenance challenges, including plans for a public meeting to discuss improvements and address communication gaps in emergency situations.

Summary

Committee Reports and Advocacy Planning

The meeting was facilitated by Jill, who introduced herself and outlined the agenda. Committee reports were discussed, with Angela reporting for the Communication Committee and Roz presenting on Advocacy. The Advocacy Committee plans to hold their first meeting via Zoom with Jim, Kay, Gail, and Rob to discuss building relationships with government officials, particularly county council members. The group agreed to add a discussion about parcel taxes to the agenda.

Decatur Community Engagement Initiatives

The group discussed joining county subcommittees to increase Decatur's involvement, with Roz tasked to investigate the process. They reviewed communication efforts, including a newsletter reaching 75 subscribers and plans for quarterly island-wide communications. The successful All-Island picnic and Fourth of July events were highlighted, along with plans for an August 17th rummage sale that will coincide with their regular meeting, though they decided to hold the sale instead of the meeting.

Community Bulletin Board Location Challenges

The group discussed challenges with placing a community bulletin board on school district property due to compliance and approval requirements. They explored alternative locations, including the corner near the Art Pole, the county road easement, and the library golf course, with Gail offering to investigate the possibility of creating a formal easement for the corner property. The group agreed that the most frictionless location would be the Art Pole and the committee was given the green light to move forward with that location. The group discussed plans for a bulletin board installation, with Greg confirming readiness to proceed and Jill emphasizing the need to maintain its artistic integrity. The conversation ended with a discussion on fundraising efforts, noting that donations could be made through the website or by check.

Forming Governance and Bylaws Committee

The group discussed the need for formal governance structure and bylaws, with a participant proposing a 5-person leadership committee. They agreed to create a framework for basic bylaws. The group also identified current committee members for communication, advocacy, and outreach, though specific time commitments for these roles were left undefined. Rob and Sarah volunteered to serve on the Leadership Committee.

OPALCO Solar Project Negotiations

The group discussed ongoing negotiations with OPALCO regarding solar energy projects, where OPALCO is not fully incorporating their suggestions and is proceeding with an alternative site study. They noted that while OPALCO is addressing storm water concerns with a retention pond, they are still pushing forward with clearing trees up to Armitage Road without implementing requested buffer zones. The discussion also covered broader concerns about power reliability, with some questioning whether solar farms would effectively address winter power outages given the limited battery storage capacity.

Development Project and Permit Status

The group discussed the status of a development project and its associated permits, noting that a go/no-go decision would be made by the board once design is finalized and permits are allocated. They explored the possibility of using a county parcel for alternative purposes, though access issues with the county present challenges. The committee agreed to engage with county council members and the county manager about the parcel's use.

Decatur Beach Road Maintenance Concerns

The group discussed ongoing issues with abandoned vehicles and maintenance challenges on Decatur Beach Road, where property owners have expressed concerns about the narrowing road and lack of county maintenance. Mark explained that he has been organizing feedback from property owners and working with county officials to address these problems, while emphasizing that this effort is separate from the county's potential purchase of nearby property. The group discussed potential solutions including angled parking and the need for Sean Campbell, the new county representative, to maintain regular communication with residents to ensure proper road maintenance.

Property Purchase and Due Diligence

The group discussed the purchase and sale agreement for a property, with a two-month due diligence period ending August 19th. They planned to attend a public meeting at the site on August 12th to express their ideas for improving parking and traffic access, including potentially duplicating the ramp. Angela shared that county officials are interested in the property for long-term waterfront access and see the house as a resource for housing workers on the island.

Rock Island Fiber Installation Update

It was clarified that fiber installation and conduit work were performed by a separate company contracted by Rock Island, not by county employees. The group discussed ideas for improving the partial sale site, including a water station for dogs, picnic tables, and a shelter for waiting passengers. The group also addressed communication issues regarding a recent fire, noting that the incident alert system was not activated and suggesting manual incident reporting through the app as a solution. The conversation ended with thanks to attendees for their interest and participation.