Decorah Lions Club members learn more about the Metronet

(Left to right): Decorah Lions club member and former Decorah City Council member Steve Matter and Decorah City Administrator Chad Bird

Decorah City Manager Chad Bird has told members of the Decorah Lions Club about the formation, building and future of the Decorah Metro-Net.

Bird said that the city is utilizing the system for emergency management and disaster control and storing data offsite.  He says the Metronet Board is also looking at the possibilities for growth and serving the greater community. Suggestions have been made for providing community-wide, high-speed internet service, which Bird said would require a public referendum to form a municipal utility to fund and govern such a service.

In 2006 the Decorah School District was looking to link its facilities with a high-speed, fiber communications system.  Since the cables would be going close to the Winneshiek County Courthouse, the library and City Hall, city and county officials were contacted and a conversation began about pooling resources to develop the system. Winneshiek Medical Center, Luther College and Upper Iowa Explorerland also joined the group.

The Metronet Board successfully applied for grants through the Iowa Communications Network (ICN). $684,000 was needed to pay for the original construction.  Metro-Net is now up and running with about half of its capacity being used.