Decorah City Council committee will meet face-to-face with Alliant Energy representatives in an attempt to finalize a franchise agreement

Decorah Utility Committee chairperson Andy Carlson calls the negotiations with Alliant Energy for a franchise agreement "the longest ping pong game I've ever played."  However, there are signs the game might be coming to a conclusion, despite several remaining differences.

The Utility Committee Monday night discussed the proposed contract with Alliant Energy which would cover work Alliant does on its equipment in city-owned right-of-way.  The previous franchise agreement has ended, so both sides have been negotiating a new contract.

City Administrator Chad Bird has been meeting with Alliant representatives and presented to Utility Committee members a written proposal from Alliant.  However, several issues remain sticking points.  The largest issue remains the contingency language covering what happens if Decorah voters approve a second referendum on creating a municipal electric utility.  The current proposal would allow the City of Decorah to get out of the franchise agreement after five years, seven years or 12 years of the 15-year contract.

City council member Steve Luse told fellow city council members Monday night that he doesn't want to approve a franchise agreement with Alliant until Alliant officials give the city a copy of the final feasibility report on the impact of a municipal electric utility—a promise Alliant made in the process of asking the Iowa Utilities Board for approval of a rate increase.

Utility Committee members discussed appointing three of their members to meet with Alliant representatives in person to wrap up the contract, but some wondered whether the entire city council should meet with Alliant.