Many applicants for new Communications Utility Board

A large number of residents have applied to serve on Decorah's new Communications Utility Board.

The board will study communications services in Decorah, focusing primarily on internet service, to determine whether the City of Decorah should establish a utility to provide residents with fast Internet connection.

So far, nine people have applied for one of the board's five seats. Bruce Butters, Tony Clark, Carolyn Corbin, Jim Fritz, Dick Janson, Paul Mattson, Anna Norris, Larry Stevenson and Jarrad Walter have all sent applications.

The city's Personnel Committee will meet at 7:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 29th, to review the list of names and make a recommendation to the City Council. The final vote will take place on Tuesday, July 5th.

After the board is seated, it will start conducting a feasibility study on the communications utility in the Decorah area. The City Council has put away $60,0000 dollars for the study and a citizens group has pledged to match half of those funds in monetary aid.