City council members still skeptical of Decorah School Board's proposal

Members of the Decorah City Council were somewhat cool to the presentation by the Decorah School Board Monday night about a proposed new elementary school on the city-owned softball field property.

Following a one-hour presentation by school officials, Decorah City Council member Steve Luse--the chair of the city's Properties Committee--complained, "We've heard all of this before," and asked why the meeting was being held.

City Council member Chuck Lore told school officials "I haven't seen a lot of answers," adding that members of the public who have talked with him said they prefer the existing green space be kept as is.

The school district's offer to pay the City of Decorah $700,000 for the property also came under questioning, with city council member Dan Bellrichard asking how that figure was arrived at.  A separate estimate generated by city officials put the cost of creating new softball diamonds at much more than $700,000, although school district officials said the property cost was negotiable.  But city council member Gary Rustad, who chairs the city's streets committee, said building an elementary school on the softball diamond property also could lead to additional costs for street construction projects.

City council members are expected to vote on the school district's proposal at the next city council meeting on August 15th.