Ask Mr. Answer Person: Should the City of Decorah buy the Freeport floodplain?

(Mary e-mails: "Has the City of Decorah thought of purchasing the land in question surrounding the Menard's controversy? I am sure many options other than a store would better serve our community and not impact the floodplain--a park, ball diamond, or a soccer field, to name a few."):

Mr. Answer Person says: "The property which Menard's wants to use for a new store had been mentioned in the past as a potential location for softball diamonds if the downtown softball diamond was turned over to the Decorah School District as a location for a new elementary school.  There are still discussions between city and school district representatives about the new elementary school, but no agreement is expected that would occur before the Menard's application would come up to a vote."