Impasse between City of Decorah and Winneshiek County over computer equipment purchases continues

The Decorah City Council has rejected a request from Winneshiek County that the city pay $26,267 to the county for the use of computer equipment during the time the city and the county shared IT personnel and equipment.

The county's request was rejected 5-2 on Monday night, with Dan Bellrichard and Andy Carlson the lone votes in favor of paying the bill.  City council member Steve Luse said the county was "pulling at straws," adding, "I don't think they know what they're doing."  Luse said the city was being charged for invoices that had already been paid and for which the city was not billed at the time.

Carlson, however, told his fellow city council members, "There's no doubt we have a bill we need to pay."

Two weeks ago the city council took no action on the county's request, saying it could not do so until a 28e agreement was drafted that set forth the terms of future equipment sharing.  That agreement was approved by the county board one week ago and by the city council 7-0 on Monday night, but that did not lead to approval of the $26,267 invoice.