Should the City of Decorah hire a City Engineer?

Decorah City Council members have begun discussing a proposal to hire a City Engineer.  The city currently gets engineering services provided by Erdman Engineering of Decorah.

The proposal to have an in-house engineer was studied 4 or 5 years ago and led to the city accepting applications for such a position.  But the city council decided the start-up costs of such a change were too high.

City Finance Committee Chair Kirk Johnson says switching to a City Engineer would be "a sea change."  He wants further studying done about the costs of such a system.  A City Engineer would be paid around $20,000 a year more than a Street Superintendent, but there could be offsetting costs from using fewer contracted engineering services.

City officials are also looking at other responsibilities which could come under the position of City Engineer, such as handling complaints about dilapidated buildings and handling the city's sidewalk program.  They agree further study is needed to determine the financial impact of such a change.