Ask Mr. Answer Person: "Does Decorah have a list of its priorities for street projects?"

Charlie e-mails: "The streets of Decorah are in terrible condition!  I've never seen them so bad.  Just drive around, and it makes you wonder what the city administrators have been spending all our tax money on.  Where can we look to see a prioritized list and timeline of streets that will be re-surfaced or replaced - not just patched - in the next 10 years?  Will the city pay for repairs if you can prove lack of repair to the streets caused vehicle damage?  If so, who do we contact?  It's nice to have a bike trail, new airport hangars, state of the art schools, and sport facilities,  but how about the basics that the majority of the public uses?

Mr. Anser Person says: "The city spent $2.75 million on Short Street two/three years ago.  It has wanted to replaced Locust Road, but is saving its money until more of the Short Street bonding is repaid.

Your question is timely, however, because the city is about to make its street project calendar a little more explicit that it has in the past.  A lot can happen to change the order street projects are done in, but city administrators are in the middle of drawing up a Capital Improvements Plan that would set priorities--including for street projects.

This is the time for you to contact your city council representative to let them know what you see as priorities.  That will be a whole lot more effective than trying to file a lawsuit to get the city to pay for repairs to your car or truck!