Decatur city leaders will begin a series of district community meetings Tuesday evening to discuss the results of the city’s 2026 Community Survey and hear feedback directly from residents.
The meetings, hosted by Mayor Kent Lawrence and city officials, will take place across all five council districts through early April. The first meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Decatur Baptist Church for residents of District 5.
Lawrence will present a brief overview of the survey results and provide updates on city projects and priorities. Each meeting will include time for questions and discussion focused on issues specific to that district.
“As part of our commitment to transparency and accountability, we’re continuing the conversation in every district,” Lawrence said. “The survey established a benchmark. These meetings allow us to listen directly to residents and focus on delivering visible improvements.”
City officials said the meetings are intended to help guide decisions over the next one to three years following feedback gathered in the survey. The city received 689 responses from residents.
According to the results, road conditions and traffic congestion were among the most frequently cited concerns. Public safety and economic opportunity also ranked highly among residents’ priorities.
Survey participants were asked to select up to three issues they believe matter most. The top responses included:
- Public safety — 37.7%
- Traffic and congestion — 36.4%
- Jobs and economic growth — 32.2%
- Quality of life and events — 27.7%
- Streets and sidewalks — 24.8%
More than half of respondents said they were satisfied with city services. When asked whether Decatur is moving in the right direction, 38.2% said they were unsure, a response city leaders said reflects residents who want to see continued progress and measurable improvements.
“Our community made it clear that safety, infrastructure, and economic opportunity matter most,” Lawrence and the Decatur City Council said in a joint statement. “We are unified in focusing on those fundamentals and delivering visible results across our city.”
Based on the survey results, city leaders say they will focus on increasing visibility around infrastructure projects, improving communication about traffic coordination, supporting public safety initiatives and continuing economic development efforts.
Each community meeting will begin with a 15-minute presentation followed by an open question-and-answer session with residents.
Upcoming meeting dates include:
- District 2: March 17 at the Princess Theatre Listening Room
- District 3: March 24 at Burningtree Country Club
- District 4: March 31 at the Decatur Utilities Auditorium
- District 1: April 7 at the Turner-Surles Community Center
All meetings are scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m.
Residents who cannot attend may submit questions to [email protected], and full survey results are available on the city’s website.
