Staffing of the Decorah Fire Department--a follow-up report

(by decorahnews.com's Paul Scott)

On Monday we asked our readers to e-mail City of Decorah officials with a message that they opposed cuts in staffing levels at the Decorah Fire Department and supported the Iowa Open Meetings law.  You responded in heart-warming numbers.

It appears at this point that there are enough votes among city council members to advertise an opening on the Fire Department when one of the full-time staffers retires this summer.

We should point out that two city council members--Andy Carlson and Dan Bellrichard--did not attend January 13th's Personnel Committee meeting at which the possible staffing cuts were discussed.  We have also been told by several sources that there were several city council members who did attend the committee meeting who opposed any personnel cuts.

We're also encouraged by the number of readers who agreed that city government should not take steps to keep the public in the dark about possible personnel changes.

decorahnews.com will keep you, our readers, informed on this topic--and we'll keep fighting to make sure this issue is discussed in an open and public way.

Thanks again for your help!