By Denise Lana,
At its semi-monthly meeting Monday, Decorah City Council held a public hearing regarding the plans and bids for the city’s 2023 Miller Park Recreation Trail Improvement Project. Miller Park is historically the first park in Decorah, and the project focuses on improving the trail that runs through the park and connects to Blue Grass Drive and Pleasant Avenue.
Improvements made would include removal of old pavement and replacing with asphalt or concrete, excavation and regrading, sidewalk repair/repaving, storm sewer culverts, and seeding. No one came forth to speak. City Engineer Jeremy Bril recommended the first part of the trail be concrete and the rest as asphalt or concrete. Three companies, Wicks Construction, Shift Companies, and Skyline Construction, submitted bids, with the lowest bid of $113,111.50 coming from Skyline. The council voted to award the contract to Skyline.
Street issues
Stop sign installation at the intersection of Broadway Street and Winnebago Street was discussed. Recent construction at the intersection consisted of bumping out the crosswalks to make pedestrians more visible as well as making the crosswalks safer to use. Stop signs for traffic in all directions have been installed for a trial period, focusing on making it easier for school buses to navigate the heavy morning traffic, as well as make it easier for pedestrians to cross. With this safety update, the intersection is deemed good for permanent stop sign installation. The council voted 5-2 to make the stop signs permanent, with Randy Schissel and Emily Neal voting against.
In keeping with increasing bus safety on Winnebago, the council also discussed a troublesome parking spot located on the eastbound side of Winnebago near the middle school. When a vehicle is parked in the spot, it makes it increasingly difficult for buses to turn onto Winnebago. The council discussed turning the spot into a handicap spot to minimize vehicles parking there, but no action was taken.
Parking issues on Jefferson and Franklin Streets, where both streets are unusually narrow and restrict the dual flow of traffic, were discussed.
Bril will speak more with residents in the area, continue researching options and discuss the issue more at a future meeting.
Land sale
The council discussed the sale of city owned property near the high school softball diamond and corner of Claiborne and Heivly Streets. According to city attorney John Anderson, the property is of interest for purchase by Decorah Schools for $1.9 million, and includes both properties and all the utilities. Also included is the agreement that the city be allowed to continue to use the athletic facilities and fields, including the current facilities the city would be conveying to the school upon final purchase, for the next 50 years.
Anderson explained that some city utilities may have to be relocated, and part of the agreement will be that if the school wants to relocate utilities, it will have to be with city’s approval and at the school’s cost. A public hearing to discuss the disposition of this city-owned land was set for Oct. 16, with a closing date for the purchase of the two lots slated for Nov. 3, pending the outcome of the Public Hearing. Council voted and passed the sale by a vote of 6-1, with Schissel voting nay, saying he believes this should be tied to a new bond referendum.
Goal setting
The council’s bi-annual goal setting session is scheduled for November 27, and three consulting firms submitted bids for conducting the session. The bid was ultimately awarded to Upper Explorerland, who previously consulted on the 2021 session, with a bid $2,100. The other two bids were for $2,900 and $7,200 from Midwest Municipal Consulting and MSA, respectively.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Mayor Lorraine Borowski declared Tuesday, Oct. 10, Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Decorah. She cited the valuable contributions made to our community through indigenous peoples knowledge, labor, science, art and culture, stressing how they have helped mold the character of the city. The day is recognized to create an opportunity for the city to promote appreciation, tolerance and friendship among indigenous people and Decorah residents.
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