Decatur aldermen are weighing their options on what to do with a 1.7-acre parcel of land where Medgar Evers was born, which has become overgrown and littered with trash after sitting empty for several years.
The land was donated the Town of Decatur several years ago, but other than a few trips to pick up litter, the board has not done anything with it. Residents want that to change.
In a Board of Aldermen meeting last Tuesday, Alderman Michael Harris told his fellow town leaders constituents had approached him, concerned about the state of the land and asking what could be done with it.
“The Medgar Evers land was donated to the town. Now, I’m getting feedback people want to see something done because it’s a historic landmark,” he said.
Harris said his constituents had suggested possibly building a walking trail around the Evers land, which would allow residents and visitors interested in the civil rights icon to walk around the place he was born. Additionally, he said, they suggested putting several picnic tables near the entrance so people could have a place to rest or eat lunch.
While the board agreed cleaning the parcel up and adding some picnic tables would be a nice addition to the town’s recreational areas.
“We do have people come to City Hall frequently asking where Charles and Medgar Evers were born,” Alderman Mark Buntyn said.
However, Mayor David Marshal said he would want to look closer at the land before considering a walking trail. The parcel, he said, does not drain well and can get very swampy.
“I don’t know if a walking trail would work because it’s wet back there,” he said. “A picnic area in the front is doable, but a walking trail might be a whole different arena.”
Public Works director David Anderson echoed Marshal’s concern, adding the town has a manhole near the back of the Evers parcel. After a hard rain, he said, even getting to the manhole can be extremely difficult.
The board agreed they would arrange a group trip to the Medgar Evers property to see for themselves what condition it was in, how much work was needed and brainstorm ideas for what the town could do to give the historic place a better look.
In the meantime, Buntyn said, if any civic group or community organization is interested in taking on the project, the board is willing to hear ideas and suggestions.
In other business the Board of Aldermen:
•Welcomed Mitch Thomas as the new town attorney. Thomas is taking the place of Jason Mangum, who was appointed to serve as Decatur Municipal Judge, replacing Tyler McCaughn, who stepped down to run for state senate. Thomas is a partner in Magnum’s law office in Decatur;
•Approved a bid from Sistrunk Lawn and Landscaping for $590 per month to landscape Decatur Cemetery. Sistrunk was also awarded the bid for last year for $560 per month. While the lowest bid was from Kelly Landscaping, for $525 per month, the board cited Sistrunk’s experience with cemetery landscaping and the quality of his work as reasons why they accepted his bid.;
•Approved sending Decatur Police Officer Todd Brown to Dallas, Texas to attend a K-9 certification course;
•Approved a building permit from East Central Community College for the construction of Warrior Hall, which will house athletic facilities; and
•Approved amending the minutes from February 5, which stated $9,400 would be taken out of town funds for the Small Muni grant. City Clerk Brenda Harper said the correct amount was $34,100.
