Thursday, January 9, 2025
Vol. 160, Issue 2 www.decorahleader.com
Decorah, Iowa 52101 email: editor@decorahleader.com
One Section phone: 563-382-4221
Price $1.50
fax: 563-382-5949
Whittle wins runoff, Drop in farmland value ends 5-year trend city council seat BY ZACH JENSEN STAFF WRITER
BY SETH BOYES NEWS EDITOR Decorah voters have selected Cody Whittle to serve as the newest member of the Decorah City Council, according to unofficial election results released Tuesday night. Whittle earned 857 votes for approximately 55.6 percent support at the polls, according to initial tallies, defeating fellow candidate Kent Klocke, who earned 682 for about 44.3 percent of the vote. A total of 1,541 ballots were cast during this week’s runoff election — making for almost 25 percent turnout among Decorah’s eligible voters, according to the Winneshiek County Auditor’s Office. “I’m grateful for the support of the community, and I look forward to doing my best to
Cody Whittle give back the support and do right by the town of Decorah,” Whittle said after election results were posted Tuesday night in the rotunda of the county courthouse.
Whittle continued on page 12
Iowa farmland values are decreasing — ending a five-year growth trend, and at least one Iowa State University educator believes the decreasing valuation could be the start of a new downward pattern. The annual Iowa State University Land Value Survey found farmland values decreased an average of 3.1 percent in 2024 — with decreases ranging from $369 to $11,467 per acre. Information from ISU said the decrease nearly erases a 3.7 percent increase from 2023. The nominal value of an acre of farmland this year fell from last year’s record high, according to the survey, but is still higher than the nominal value in 2022. Falling commodity prices, persistently-high interest rates and elevated input costs were found to be the main factors affecting profit margins and placed increasing downward pressure on land values across the state, said Rabail Chandio, an assistant professor at ISU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Chandio said, by comparison, the increase in Iowa farmland values in 2023 was driven by a combination of favorable factors. “One significant cause was the limited supply of available farmland, which naturally increased competition among buyers,” Chandio said. “This scarcity was coupled with stronger-than-expected crop yields.” Despite drought conditions, which ended in the summer of 2024, Iowa’s average corn yield of 200 bushels per acre and a soybean yield of 58 bushels per acre outperformed expectations, Chandio said — boosting farm income and overall market optimism in 2023.
Additionally, farmland remained a sought-after investment in 2023, Chandio said, particularly for those looking to hedge against economic uncertainty, with investor demand providing further upward pressure on land values. But, just one year later, in 2024, plummeting corn and soybean prices mixed with a shortage of available farmland and elevated input costs brought the value of farmland down. “Falling commodity prices,
which were still high at an absolute level and had supported higher incomes in prior years, became a significant downward pressure,” Chandio said. “For example, USDA forecasted season-average corn and soybean prices at $4.10 per bushel and $10.20 per bushel, respectively— marking declines of 10 percent and 18 percent from the previous year — squeezing farm profitability.” That decrease brings the markets down to nearly-pre-pan-
demic prices, but Chandio said expenses haven’t fallen at the same rate. “Elevated input costs — including fertilizers, machinery and fuel — further tightened farmers’ profit margins, making land investments less attractive,” the professor said. “Although some areas saw slight increases due to specific
Farmland values continued on page 11
VisitIUC us online - www.decorahnewspapers.com Decorah seeks decision ahead of MEU vote Sheriff’s deputy charged Alliant says city’s assertions are unfounded after putting personal BY SETH BOYES NEWS EDITOR The city of Decorah has asked the Iowa Utilities Commission to prohibit Alliant Energy from conducting community outreach efforts in Decorah without approval from the commission. The petition also seeks clarification on the scope of previous orders the commission issued to the company. The city filed its request a little more than two months before voters will be asked to decide if the city should be authorized to municipalize its electrical service. Decorah residents will head to the polls on March 4 to voice their opinion on the city’s proposal. A similar question was posed to local voters in 2018 and failed by three votes. The city’s recent petition alleges inaccurate information provided at that time by Interstate Power and Light Company — the division of Alliant Energy which services Iowa — may have affected the outcome of the referendum. “Now that the question of
establishing a municipal electric utility in Decorah is again on the ballot in the community, it is critical that IPL not be allowed to make a fresh round of misrepresentations in advance of the election,” the city’s petition said. Brad Bauer, director of operational resources with Alliant Energy, said the company feels the comments and assertions in the city’s petition are unfounded, adding Alliant Energy is in full compliance with orders from the Iowa Utilities Commission. “Rather than spending taxpayer dollars on unrelated filings and matters, we urge the city council to focus on the facts and provide residents with accurate information about the full costs associated with establishing a city-run energy system,” Bauer said. Alliant has pursued multiple rate increases since the 2018 referendum, and city officials previously indicated they aim to explore alternatives for providing electricity to Decorah residents, if Alliant’s rates become cost prohibitive for locals.
Alliant’s average residential rate in 2023 was higher than all but two of Iowa’s 136 municipal electric utilities, according to information compiled by the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa — a group which docket filings indicate the city of Decorah previously joined. The Clean Energy Districts of Iowa estimated, if an average household serviced by Alliant had hypothetically purchased its electricity from a municipal utility in New Hampton or Cedar Falls, the rate would have been at least 42 percent less — or about $670. However, the organization also noted Alliant’s industrial electric rates for 2023 were within the lowest third out of all the state’s electrical utilities. City officials said, while the upcoming election might result in the establishment of a local MEU, the city council would not be required to take further steps if the concept proves unfeasible at any point. Bauer indicated a number of other cities have done just that. “When it comes to municipalizing, few communities across the U.S. have started down this
path in the last decade,” Bauer said. “Similar to Decorah, the communities initially cited local control and lower costs as the drivers. However, upon further evaluation, the communities realized the cost to acquire the local electric system would place an unnecessary burden on taxpayers – which deterred them from municipalizing.” Information from the city indicates the Iowa Utilities Commission will help determine the cost of purchasing Alliant’s infrastructure if voters approve the March 4 referendum. Alliant questions city’s info, city questions Alliant’s data The Decorah City Council recently approved a master list of information to be distributed to residents ahead of the March 4 vote via fliers, mailers and other materials — the city’s sustainability commission was authorized to spend up to $15,000 on the effort. Alliant’s legal
MEU continued on page 6
purchases on office account
BY SETH BOYES NEWS EDITOR An investigation into possible criminal misconduct involving a Winneshiek County Sheriff’s deputy has resulted in charges. A statement from the sheriff’s office said 33-year-old Makenz Allen Kriener of Fort Atkinson was charged with sales tax evasion — a class D felony — and fifth-degree theft — a simple misdemeanor. The sheriff’s statement said an immediate internal investigation began after law enforcement learned of the allegations — the sheriff’s office also said assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was requested, due to the nature of the investigation. Criminal complaints filed against the deputy said Kriener used a tax-exempt account associated with the sheriff’s office to make personal purchases — totaling less than $300 — from Norby’s Farm Fleet in Decorah. The complaint went on to
Makenz Allen Kriener say members of the Iowa DCI interviewed Kriener, and the 33-year-old “admitted the use of the items is on a mostly personal basis and (he) had stored the items at his residence.” Court documents indicate Kriener has been given a court date of Jan. 13. Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx was unable to confirm Kriener’s employment status, citing legal restrictions under Iowa Code.