Thursday, April 4, 2024
Vol. 159, Issue 14
Decorah, Iowa 52101 www.decorahnewspapers.com
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County seeks $210K minimum bid for Freeport property, future public hearing and bid-letting to be scheduled By Zach Jensen The four-parcel property in Freeport the county has been trying to sell for approximately the last six months will once again be on the market and up for bid. In a three-to-two vote, the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors decided April 1 to require a minimum bid of $210,000 to purchase the 7.21 acres of land, which is designated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as “floodway fringe”. The land was originally assessed at an approximate value of $35,000 per acre or about $250,000 for the whole parcel. Previous bids, which were opened during the March 18 supervisors meeting, were $142,000 from Iowa Rotocast Plastics, Inc. and $177,450 from Ren Properties, LLC, owned by Russell Novak of Novak Electric. During that meeting, Supervisor Co-Chair Mark Vick voted to reject the bids because he felt they were too low. At that time, Vick said he was expecting an amount closer to $250,000 for the property.
However, when asked what the minimum bid should be for the property at the April 1 meeting, Vick suggested a minimum bid of $210,000; more than $33,000 above the highest bid on March 18. “If we were completely working with the neighbors, who’ve voiced concern, who live directly around this parcel, we wouldn’t be selling it at all,” said Supervisor Shirley Vermace during the April 1 meeting. Supervisor Mark Faldet added that, to please most of the neighbors in the area, the sale of the land would include the restriction of raised-pedestal-construction only. Faldet’s suggestion is based on the belief that anything built on that parcel should be built on pedestals as to help mitigate floodwaters and to allow the already-in-place native prairie grasses to soak up excess water. Supervisor Vick made a motion to have County Attorney Andy Van Der Maaten draft a new resolution to sell the property for a minimum bid of $210,000 for all 7.21 acres, in one parcel and following Iowa DNR regulations.
“Why, again, won’t you compromise for this?” Vermace asked. “For everybody involved, it’s a wonderful compromise to say ‘raised-pedestal only’.” “We’re limiting buyers,” replied Supervisor Steve Kelsay. “As long as it meets the DNR requirements, that satisfied my opinion. {…} The DNR’s requirements will be the same flood requirements.” “But it won’t be the same as raised-pedestal construction,” Vermace said. “That is one thing that can be put on there, in flood fringe,” Kelsay said. “We know that.” Vermace persisted on the subject and reminded the supervisors that they’d heard from more than 400 area residents, through emails and a petition, who spoke out against the sale of the property. “We know about all of this, Shirley,” replied Supervisors Chair Dan Langreck. “You’re beating this to death.” “I’m going to keep beating this, because this is a good
2023-24 levels. Mindy Meyers from Riverview Center — an agency providing sexual assault services to the region — addressed the Decorah City Council April 1 and asked that April be proclaimed Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Mayor Lorraine Borowski signed and proclaimed April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
• The council held the second reading of, unanimously waived the third reading of, and unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 2.08 City Engineer and creating Chapter 12.06 Street Superintendent of the Decorah Municipal Code. • The council held the second reading of, unanimously waived the third reading of, and unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance creating Chapter 2.10 Public Works of the Decorah Municipal Code. • Mayor Borowski chose Tim Felton to be appointed to the Civil Service Commission. • Parks and Recreation Director Andy Nimrod announced his upcoming retirement. The next meeting of the Decorah City Council will be held April 15 at 5:45 p.m.
Supervisors
continued on page 3
City Council holds regular meeting, public hearing April 1 By Denise Lana
A public hearing was conducted Monday, April 1, regarding the City of Decorah’s proposed Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Property Tax Levy. No one from the public came forth, nor were any comments received by city staff prior to the hearing. For FY2024-25, the maximum property tax levy of $16.27935 per $1,000 of taxable valuation in the City of Decorah was approved unanimously. This allows an increase of maximum regular total property taxes of $263,245 over 2023-24, due to the increase in assessed and taxable valuation of Decorah properties. This allows the tax levy to decrease by (x)/thousand, while increasing maximum tax revenues above
Easter Egg-citement
About 100 children, age 8 and younger, participated in the Decorah Parks & Rec’s annual Easter Egg Hunt, held Saturday, March 30, at Will Baker Park, which was rescheduled due to snow on March 23. Ella Krouse-Gagne, 1, of Decorah, shows off an egg she found.
Rhett (left), River and Rory (seated) pose with the Easter Bunny, Adrian Walter, during the Decorah Park & Rec’s annual Easter Egg Hunt, held March 30, at Will Baker Park. (Driftless Multimedia photos by Zach Jensen)
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Other business • Will Marx was sworn in by City Clerk Keri Sand as the newest police officer with Decorah Police Department. • A public hearing for FY2025 budget was set for Monday, April 15, during the council’s regular meeting at 5:45 p.m. • Hailey Abbey was appointed to the Sustainability Commission.
Visit us online - www.decorahnewspapers Warren Scholl, 2, of Decorah, hunts for Easter eggs with his mother, Kayla, during the annu- Henry (Dykstra) Thomas, 2, and his father, al Parks & Recreation Easter Egg Hunt, held Remi, enjoy a blueberry waffle during the March 30, at Will Baker Park in Decorah. Easter egg hunt Saturday morning.
New co-managers to run this year’s Decorah Farmers Market Imani Cornelius and Mike Coffey will take over this upcoming season as co-managers of the Decorah Farmers Market. The duo learned how to run the Decorah Farmers Market as the former
The Decorah Farmers Market welcomes its new co-managers, Mike Coffey and Imani Cornelius. The farmers market season will be underway beginning May 1. (submitted)
manager’s volunteers in previous years. The Farmers Market in Decorah is 49 years old. The market’s golden anniversary will be in 2025. A press release said the Decorah Farmers Market Board of Directors is celebrating resilience by hiring Cornelius and Coffey. “Having two co-managers will help ensure coverage over the entire season,” the release said. “Two minds from different generations solving problems should help create effective solutions for the future of the market.” The Decorah Farmers Market has
Decorah Women’s Weekend Out is this weekend!
helped more than 50 small local businesses and farms grow and succeed over the years, according to market information. The market offers a variety of goods and produce from eggs, honey, maple syrup, fruits, vegetables, meats, pickled and baked products. Shoppers can also find many kinds of artisan products and craft items. Look for the Decorah Farmers Market to open Wednesday, May 1. On Saturdays, the market will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Find more information at visitdecorah.com/farmers-market/.