It's the easiest question yet for Mr. Answer Person: "What about the Winneshiek County Republican Party's elephant statue?"

(Darrel asks Mr. Answer Person:  I thought there are limits on size and distance for things to be placed in front of a business in the downtown area. Businesses have to abide by these rules or face penalties. There is a large elephant statue which takes up a great deal of space on the sidewalk at the corner of Winnebago Street and Main Street.  Does this statue meet the downtown city requirements?"

Mr. Answer Person says, "Yes.  Not only does the elephant statue meet the standard for sidewalk displays in downtown Decorah, but Republican Party officials talked with City of Decorah officials before putting the elephant on the sidewalk.

City officials informed the Republicans about the requirement that displays are limited to three feet in front of a downtown building's facade.

Mr. Answer Person drove past the Republican Party's offices and saw the elephant leaned up against the front of the building--in compliance with City Code."