Alley Improvement Project dominates City Council meeting

The Decorah City Council met with numerous comments at the public hearing regarding the 2012 Alley Improvement Project.  City Engineer Lindsay Erdman responded to several concerns by noting that sometimes the alleys in less disrepair will be at the top of the project list because repairing them now is cheaper than a complete reconstruction later.

Most of the public concern centered on assessments to owners on Block 44 where the alley was in serious disrepair. Residents said the alley was fine until the construction related to the new eye clinic on East Water Street.  The alley will also accommodate exit traffic from the eye clinic, which was a concern to some residents.

After considerable input and discussion the Council approved the Alley Improvement project with the exception of Block 44. The Council will reenter discussion with the eye clinic management to determine cost issues related to the alley. Council members appeared to be in agreement that residents on the block should not be unfairly burdened when they were not responsible for the damaged alley.  The Council might have to hold another another public hearing later specifically related to this alley.