City of Decorah wants to tackle the problem of junk cars

Decorah City Administrator Chad Bird wants the city to tackle the problem of junk cars.  "They're sitting behind the garage with grass growing through it," he told members of the city's Community Betterment Committee this week.  Bird says the cars are not just unsightly, but could attract rodents and other pests.
 
Bird, City Attorney John Anderson, and Decorah Police Chief David Smutzler have been working on updating the language in city code pertaining to junk cars.  Bird says the problem is that some vehicle owners take out licenses on the junk cars—even though the cars are not drivable.  A Community Betterment Committee member encouraged the three city staffers to bring proposed new ordinance wording to a city council meeting.