Not all public comment on the hotel project was positive

About two dozen people attended Monday night's city council meeting

Decorah City Council members heard support for the Rebound Enterprises project Monday night from several Decorah residents, including Mike Harman, Harlan Satrom, Benji Nichols and Mike Huinker.

But there were others who spoke out against the development agreement.  Country Inn Decorah general manager Jeff Brewer said that while "the Bluffs Inn has been an eyesore," he objected to using hotel/motel tax proceeds to give to Decorah Jobs to help Rebound Enterprises pay for tearing down the building.  Brewer said that amounts to asking established hotel to pay for helping a competitor.  He played down Rebound's acceptance of the proposal, saying "Those who rob Peter to pay Paul usually have the support of Paul."

Likewise, rural Decorah resident Thomas Hansen said giving tax abatements to Rebound goes above and beyond what is normally done.  Hansen urged Rebound that over the length of their tax abatement agreement they should donate ten percent of the rebated property tax to area non-profits as a above and beyond commitment to the community.  Hansen said these donations would match the taxpayers' above and beyond commitment to the increase of Rebound Hospitality's profits