Decorah City Council will hold a public hearing on a utility franchise agreement with Alliant Energy

On a 4-3 vote Monday night, Decorah City Council members agreed to hold a public hearing June 1st on a proposed utility franchise agreement with Alliant Energy.

The vote comes as the City of Decorah is preparing for the Locust Road Improvement Project this summer.  The project will require moving electrical lines along the road and putting them underground--a project which Alliant Energy said would cost the city $1.5 million without a franchise agreement.

City council member Emily Neal argued that the city council didn't understand the numbers which went into the $1.5 million dollar fee, but city council member Kirk Johnson argued the city council needed to get the agreement approved before work begins on Ridge Road.

The city council approved the public hearing on a 4-3 vote, with Neal, Johanna Bergan and Steve Luse voting against the motion.