Why did Luther College say "no" to request for help in landing big summer concert in Decorah?

Discussion about the City of Decorah helping Luther College to refinance nearly $7 million in bonds took an unexpected turn on Monday night.

City council approval of the $6,920,000 refinancing plan was expected--and was given on a unanimous vote.  But first City Council member Tade Kerndt asked why the city was helping Luther College when Luther College wouldn't help the city when it was trying to attract a large outdoor concert to Decorah this coming summer.

While the discussion didn't mention any specifics, decorahnews.com reported previously that the concert would have involved a major Britsh folk rock group and would have had an estimate audience of 35,000 people, with a $15 million economic impact.

The question put Luther College Vice President for Finance Diane Tacke on the spot, but she did a good job of handling the question, replying that she, too, was disappointed with the outcome and believed Luther College would be willing to partner with the community in future events.  Tacke told city council members Luther's lawyers told the college it should not become involved in the event because of the short time to plan the concert.

City council members then gave the approval to issue and sell private college facility bonds, with the proceeds used in part to repay an earlier bond taken out by Luther to pay for the remodeling of Miller and Dieseth Halls.