87-124 AUTHORIZING SALE OF LAND 300 BLOCK WEST 1ST DRIVE

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. � • ' I In the midst of the best farmland in the United States , . � agriculture is an important factor and Decatur is known as the Soybean Capital of the World. There are a number of � large manufacturing plants including Caterpillar ( heavy �i trucks and graders) , Firestone (tires) , Staley ( corn) , ADM �i ( corn and soybeans ) , Mueller ( brass and water systems � fittings ) , PPG Industries ( sheet glass ) , York Division of I! Borg-Warner ( emission controls ) , Wagner ( castings ) and I� Norfork and Western Railway ( shops ) . Approximately one- ii third of the labor force is employed in manufacturing. jl D��catur has both public and parochial schools, four senior high schools, Millikin University and Richland Community � ; College, a junior college. An outstanding park system ' features five municipal golf courses . The park district �� also owns and operates the airport and air service is by ;, j Britt Air Lines, Ozark Midwest, and Transworld Express. Financial institutions include seven banks, three savings ' and loan associations, and twenty-one credit unions. Four railroads serve Decatur but there is no passenger service. ' I Inter-city bus lines are available plus numerous trucking ; companies, many with terminals. � i I' According to figures from the 1980 census Macon County now ' has a population of 131,375 which is a sl,ight increase from � I �; the 1970 census of 12� , 010. These 1980 census figures also show the population of the City of Decatur at 94, 081 which � I is only 3, 684 higher :han tkae 19'70 census. The population ihas grown little ov�r 10 years but the labor force has �� increased. Because of the type of workers that make up this j � labor force, and the -�igh degree of unionism, there has been i'' . II a high rate of unempl -yment. Presently unemployment is �n a ;I range of 9�-120. ' Decatur has a council-manager form of government �-rhich ' functions fairly satisfactorily but fire and police � departn�ents are above average. ,� i � NEIGFIBORHOOD This neighborhood is located one and one-half miles south of � � the downtown business section of Decatur, in an area ' ;, referred to as South Shores. The immediate neighborhood has , a mixture of commercial , residential , and public service uses. To the north of the subject is the South Tocane Plaza, to the south is a Decatur fire station and the remainder of � the area is built up with single family residences . ; ; 5 � __ —� FOTHFUSS - HUr �PPf7l�15F��?;