For several years during annual city budget work sessions the budget & finance committee and the utility committee have been discussing the financial condition of the water and sewer utility funds.  The situation is complex and this paper will attempt to explain three key issues impacting the utilities; insufficient utility revenues, lower water consumption history, and initiatives aimed at cost containment.

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The Winneshiek County Housing Needs Assessment committee will be holding its final public open house meetings during the months of October and November to conclude the assessment process.

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The City of Decorah is offering a “Free Loading” opportunity in May. Continue reading →

A phone survey will be conducted beginning May 25, 2017 to gauge public demand for a Decorah Broadband/High Speed Internet telecommunications utility.  The city has hired American Directions Research Group, a market research company, to solicit citizen feedback.  The survey should only take 10-12 minutes of your time.  If you are called, please plan to participate.  Any questions you have regarding the survey may be directed to City Hall at (563) 382-3651.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Duties of Property Owners Regarding Right of Way Trees

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

FRIENDSHIP NOT FEAR
STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH MUSLIMS IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY
AND THE NATION

Co-sponsors:
Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center
National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms

Endorsed by: Decorah Human Rights Commission, Northeast Iowa Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Ryumonji Zen Monastery, Good Shepherd Congregation Council, First United Methodist Church, Grace Episcopal Church

Endorsed by Decorah City Council majority 3-6-17

Throughout its history, the City of Decorah has been built on the strength of its ethnic, racial and religious acceptance.

Many Muslim students attend Luther College and contribute to the cultural diversity of Decorah; and Postville is home to a thriving Somali Muslim community, many of whom visit Decorah on a regular basis.

Inflammatory comments by public figures have increased, including calls to shut down mosques, to ban Muslims from entering the United States and to institute a Muslim Registry.

Incidents of violence and hatred against Muslims have also increased, with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) documenting more than 300 incidents that targeted immigrants or Muslims in the first 10 days after the recent election.

We declare that fear will not divide us. We recognize the threats posed by fear of Islam to our American values of religious freedom and cultural diversity are threats against our very way of life in Decorah and the United States; and we as a community stand firmly with our Muslim neighbors against Islamophobia in all its manifestations.

SPLC Southern Poverty Law Center, February 15, 2017. The Year in Hate and Extremism. https://www.splcenter.org/news/2017/02/15/hate-groups-increase-second-consecutive-year-trump-electrifies-radical-right

USA Today, June 29, 2016. 2016 already marred by nearly daily terror attacks. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/06/29/major-terrorist-attacks-year/86492692/

The Bridge Initiative, A Georgetown University Research Project, May 2, 2016. When Islamophobia Turns Violent: The 2016 U.S. Presidential Elections. http://bridge.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/When-Islamophobia-Turns-Violent.pdf

Global Research, January 28, 2017, Non-Muslims Carried Out More than 90% of All Terrorist Attacks in America. http://www.globalresearch.ca/non-muslims-carried-out-more-than-90-of-all-terrorist-attacks-in-america/5333619

• Solidarity with Muslims Statement