ATHENS —
The way is paved for Calhoun Community College to annex into the city of Decatur.
The Alabama Board of Education, overseer of the state’s two-year colleges, approved Calhoun’s annexation request during its meeting Thursday.
Calhoun President Marilyn Beck has said annexation from southern Limestone County into Decatur will lower fire insurance rates and cut response from police, firefighters and HAZMAT by up to half. The Decatur city limit currently stops at the south end of Calhoun.
Decatur City Council members could vote on the annexation request at its Dec. 4 meeting, said Director of Economic and Community Development Wally Terry.
He said the matter would be reviewed by the Planning Department and probably forwarded to the Planning Commission for a vote before it comes before the council. Although the council could call a special meeting to approve the request Nov. 19, Terry said that is unlikely.
Some Decatur residents have questioned how much it will cost to provide additional police and fire service to the school of more than 5,000 students.
Terry said the council would discuss any additional costs, but he was not aware of anything out of the ordinary.
“We are already servicing them with a secondary response team, and I know of no need for a fire station or anything to be built. As the Highway 20 corridor grows, then new assets may have to be dedicated, but not now.”
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