Contract to cut down trees near the city's levees is part of the levee recertification project

The City of Decorah has hired a contractor who has cut down many of the trees along the city's levee from the Fairgrounds to the Community Garden area.

City Administrator Chad Bird says the work was part of the changes required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in order to recertify the city levee for flood protection.

Contractor Gordon Norton is actually paying money to the city for the project, since Norton gets to sell the lumber that he hauls away.

City crews will return to the area shortly and finish a clean-up.