Letter to the Editor: "Decorah is definitely a regional economic hub and if it is not growing, it is dying"

(The following Letter to the Editor has been submitted by Karl Jacobsen of Decorah as personal opinion, not as fiduciary advice nor as a hospital trustee):

"decorahnews.com's article about Menards getting reduced property tax valuations in Minnesota (http://www.decorahnews.com/news-stories/2018/09/20226.html) should point out a great fallacy in assumptions going around on Menards' efforts to build in Decorah.   Their property tax litigation and net reduction in Minnesota is symptomatic of a much greater problem.   Residents in Minnesota are going to court to reduce property taxes due to losing their paid-for homes due to over-assessed values, resulting in unaffordable property tax bills.  It is a huge problem of government overspending on false assumptions of presumed value.   This is a huge issue throughout our society.  

Tied to this is the fiduciary duty of elected bodies.   Decorah City Council is facing a huge fiduciary challenge.  Property taxes are already too high in Decorah.  Unfunded liabilities are required to be addressed such as street paving, IPERS underfunding, sewer infrastructure repairs and more that I am unaware of.

Years ago, Walmart coming to Decorah was resisted because of all of the negative impacts it was going to have.   Actual government revenues have exceeded projected revenues by 400 percent. Changes have been made to cope with the impacts, but I would dare say that without Walmart as a regional attraction for business, Decorah's economic vitality would be fundamentally different.  I believe the conservative projections by Menards in bringing outgoing business back to 52101 would do likewise. Decorah is definitely a regional economic hub and if it is not growing, it is dying.

Let me pivot to respond to flood issues as well.  I spent a June night in 2008 helping evacuate two nursing homes in Decorah due to flooding. When I got home after 5:30 A.M., I got a call from Barthell Eastern Star, where I served as administrator.  Long story short--Eastern Star had greater water damage in 2008 than either of the two nursing homes evacuated.  My point:  it is inches of rain on the water table that cause water damage, not so much flooding. 

To support this argument further--I moved to Freeport and in 2016 almost lost my house to rainfall, not river flood.   I would point out that two other homes in Freeport lost basements to rainfall issues, not river flooding at the same time.  Four other homes were bought out by FEMA due to need to be removed from the flood plain.  I believe a less than 2-inch guestimate on flood impact is a false argument to argue against Menards building where they have selected a viable location.  The market impacts will be significant, no doubt. I look for ongoing regional economic growth and viability of fiscal balance for Decorah.  I would only ask the city council negotiate with Menards to have them make Winneshiek Medical Center a preferred provider in their benefit program as a condition of approval."