City council approves taking Decorah property owner to court — if necessary

Work is being done to put new siding on this house at 404 Jefferson Street

The Decorah City Council has unanimously voted to authorize the City Attorney to initiate court proceedings against a Decorah property owner.

At issue is property at 404 Jefferson Street, which has been the subject of a number of letters written to the property owner by city officials, asking the owner to bring the property into compliance with the city's property maintenance ordinance.

City Administrator Chad Bird on Monday night told city council members the property owner has been working on the building this week and now has "75 percent of the work completed," but the motion approved Monday night by the city council gives Bird the option of bringing legal proceedings against the owner if necessary.