DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — Decatur city council president Jacob Ladner fought back tears on his final voting day at city hall as the head of District 5 and as the city council president.
In his farewell, Ladner spoke about the new aggressive approach to decision-making by the council and setting the tone to do what it takes to rebuild the city’s failing infrastructure and invest in city employees.
“Whether that’s being aggressive with developers and incentives or whether that’s putting a new focus on parks and rec, investing in our employees, all of those things. Those are things that have not happened for a long time, for decades,” Ladner explained.
Council member Kyle Pike thanked Ladner for what he’s accomplished in his five years as president and councilman.
“I don’t think it would have been possible without you,” said Pike. “There is no training book to show you how to do this. I’m extremely thankful for what we’ve been able to accomplish in the last 5 years.”
But while fellow city council members praised Ladner for his service, Decatur citizens withheld the opportunity to applaud the council’s accomplishments.
“Jacob, goodbye and good riddance,” citizen Sharonda Acklin said.
Those citizens have held Ladner and the city council accountable for their delayed actions after the police shooting death of Stephen Perkins two years ago. The shooting has divided the city while igniting protests and arrests during council meetings at city hall.
“It will go down in history for the past two years the way the city has responded to the death of Steve Perkins, John Scott and Jaden DeJarnett,” Decatur citizen Sarah French said. “The way you didn’t move and handle these situations.”
Ladner told News 19 that the final two years since the police shooting death of Perkins were the most challenging for everyone on the council.
“The last two years will go down in history as a time in Decatur where there was a tragedy, and how did the local government respond to that is important,” said Ladner. “All I can tell you is I always wanted to do what I thought was right and what the next right thing was, and I feel like I’ve done that, and the rest will be for others to judge and decide.”
Monday was also the final voting day for Mayor Tab Bowling and for council members Billy Jackson and Hunter Pepper.
The new council members will be inaugurated on October 30.
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