Decorah City Council takes several steps requested by the Municipal Utility group

(Photo courtesy of Decorah Power's Facebook page)

Decorah Power is a citizens group which has formed to pursue the possibility of a municipal electrical utility in Decorah.  The Decorah City Council has now approved several by the group to allow Decorah Power to study the issue.

Steve Luse will be the city council's representative on the Decorah Power board.  Luse has called the possible municipal electric utility "an exciting opportunity (for Decorah)."

The city council also agreed to not sign a new franchise agreement with Alliant Energy this year--a move that gives the citizens group time to raise funds for a feasibility study and have that study conducted.

Group spokesperson Andy Nelson says the move gives the city council another option to consider when it's time to sign a franchise agreement.  A municipal utility would result in what he called, "a forward-leaning energy future for Decorah."

Finally the city council approved allowing Decorah Power to say the feasibility study is "authorized by the City of Decorah," although city council members took pains to state that this did not represent a financial commitment.