In accordance with the schedule of fees, starting March 1st, the City of Decatur will be charging a 3% convenience fee for all credit card transactions.

The Decatur Economic Development Corporation will be holding its annual Business Appreciation Dinner on February 16th at the Decatur Civic Center.  Congress woman Kay Granger will be the guest speaker.  In order to attend, a reservation must be made.  To RSVP contact the Decatur EDC at (940)-627-9109 or email them at iburnett@decaturtx.org

Decatur Main Street will be holding it's monthy Girls' Night Out event on February 11th.  Visit http://www.decaturmainstreet.com for more details, or call (940)-627-6158.

With winter weather bearing down, there are some precautions residents should take in order to avoid costly winter damage and discomfort in the home.

Water Tips
   1.  Make sure all exterior water pipes are insulated and/or covered.  This will prevent the pipes from bursting due to freezing.
   2.  Cover all exterior faucets (including water hose faucets) with insulating faucet covers.  The Styrofoam covers are usually the easiest and best to use.
   3. Make sure you know where the gate valve is located so that you can turn the water off in case of a pipe bursting.
   4.  Make sure you have the emergency phone number for your water utility provider (City of Decatur is 940-627-2741 during business hours, and 940-627-1500 during off hours) in case you do have a pipe burst or notice a main break.
   5. During a "hard freeze", leave a single faucet dripping to continue water movement and prevent freezing.
   6.  Do not thaw pipes with lighters, torches, or any device that provides large amounts of heat in a quick manner.  Thaw the pipes slowly with a space heater or with normal room conditions.  This will ensure that the pipe does not crack due to a quick temperature change.

Gas Tips
   1.  Check ventilation for all gas appliances to make sure the are safely connected and not clogged.
   2.  Make sure pilot lights are all working properly.
   3.  If you are using propane, make sure to check propane levels regularly.
   4.  Install a carbon-monoxide detector to keep you and your loved ones safe from CO poisoning.
   5. Keep the emergency contact numbers for the gas company handy in case you notice a gas leak.