Mayor vetoes proposed anti-engine idling ordinance

Decorah Mayor Don Arendt has cast a rare veto, overturning action by the Decorah City Council Monday night to approve the third reading of an ordinance regulating engine idling in the city.

The ordinance has sparked a lot of debate in previous meetings, passing by 4-3 margins the first two times it was considered.  Monday night it passed 4-2, since Gary Rustad, who had previously opposed the ordinance, was absent.

The mayor's veto message said the city ordinance would be a duplication of the state's idling ordinance.  He called the ordinance "unnecessary" and "anti-business" and concluded, "Our police have more important laws to enforce."

In order to overturn the mayor's veto, supporters of the ordinance would need two-thirds of the seven city council members to vote to override--or five city council members.