"The worst outcome would be no decision" – School Board to City on request to purchase property

On Monday night the Decorah Community School Board and the Decorah City Council met in joint session to discuss the School Board's request to purchase the property at the intersection of Heivly and Claiborne. A softball field, parking and recycling containers are currently on the site.

The School Board devoted much of their presentation to background details about the need for new construction in light of expanding enrollment and the closure of North Winneshiek. The Board also detailed why they could not consider more than short term use of some of North Winneshiek facilities, or construction of a facility on the current John Cline site.

Ultimately the groups began discussion of the specific site in question. Board members acknowledged this was not a perfect site, but maintained there were no other viable possibilities – considering traffic congestion, property availability and neighborhood issues.  They also said the Shareholders group had agreed this was the best site.

One Council member said it appeared there was no question among the Council  about the need for new facilities. However, some members implied their constituencies were not in favor of construction downtown. They also raised questions about the Board's willingness to negotiate beyond a figure of $700,000 that had been floated about a year ago. The School Board seemed receptive to considering alternate figures.

Brian Petersburg summed up the Board position by saying they were "almost begging" for the City to sell the property, as the School District is in desperate need of new space and that action needed to be taken soon.  New construction could take a minimum of two years to complete, not including planning time and passing a bond referendum to finance the project. Estimates from three years ago suggest the cost of an adequate facility could well exceed $15 million.

As the meeting concluded, Board President Ron Fadness said it was obvious that the Board wanted the site in question, but that the worst outcome would be for the City to make no decision on the sale of the property. The Board needed to move forward, one way or another.  After the meeting City Council member and Chair of the Property and Purchasing Committee Steve Luse said he hoped the Council would discuss and make a decision regarding sale at their August 15 meeting.