Paul Scott comment on Menard's plans: "This could get interesting"

(decorahnews.com file photo from August of 2016 of the property being considered for the site of a Menard's store)

(The following is a comment by decorahnews.com's Paul Scott):

There's a fair amount of mixed feelings at Decorah City Hall right now about Menard's announcement that it wants to build a new store in Decorah.

On the one hand, having another retailer set up shop in Decorah would be a great draw for the community.  Right now, according to the Iowa State University Department of Economics, the latest sales tax figures for Iowa show that the 17 businesses in Winneshiek County that sell building materials do an average of $673,000 in sales per business.  The statewide average per business is $1,859,909--almost three times the county's average.  So there definitely is business leaving the county to shop elsewhere.

On the other hand, however, you only have to look at the photo above--taken just a little over one year ago near what would be the entrance to the proposed Menard's store--to see the argument against this particular location.  Flood damage is not a theoretical concern for Decorah residents--we have had it happen to us, or to someone we know.  And if flooding occurred one year ago on the proposed site of the Menard's store before the floodplain gets filled, we can imagine what would happen after it gets filled?

So this will be an interesting question--how badly do we want this economic development?  And what do we say to our neighbors when the next flood occurs?