[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6122250,"mediaKeyId","2695395-dd36b920c762a5fc9521d8ee359101cb","parentId",2695395,"title","At a glance: Decorah council approves consent agenda, Army Reserve agreement, AFSCME contract and residency ordinance","audioSeconds",2106,"startMs",1046000,"endMs",3152000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2695395-dd36b920c762a5fc9521d8ee359101cb&start=1046&end=3152","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2695395-dd36b920c762a5fc9521d8ee359101cb/thumbnail_1046000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6122250/Decorah/Winneshiek-County/Iowa/At-a-glance-Decorah-council-approves-consent-agenda-Army-Reserve-agreement-AFSCME-contract-and-residency-ordinance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122250-3da84103a9a0b23d6aa001fda57b44ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202177&Signature=DtuDrgPGoNP~msLSRWmS0MuYMeRR3yrynA4FzqHgWWFL5KKo9TeTZwCwn51bPzrRnLxkyIrRMfSBhoCb~0cTQdtaBLcArh4pCI-K-owPCqg405GjjIIHZL6QtezbHpb9-vjvfujPXYD5IKSFEcpS1bS4MHAgQAKZvP9NcM2o7GPxPHEzQLSb20jx-TaAIEAyFaw13q03d-MfSOBUBOOM~Ai16vptvdaH3zIrSisZbYJulMSpXJ-m7U51Ipdzmx2dft1AI6FQ3~ASMAre55QGqnMLW-j8~O650-1gEB5Ji2uljvpyBrRWz3r3OCHOkjP2n5n3mRGrH~hrjX3OkpBoCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Decorah, IA","date","2025-03-18T18:15:04Z","article","During Monday’s meeting the Decorah City Council approved the consent agenda and several substantive items, including a supplemental agreement related to the Army Reserve Center land, adoption of a residency policy ordinance and ratification of a three-year AFSCME labor contract.

Consent agenda: The council approved routine items including minutes of the March 3, 2025 meeting; claims; a new class C retail alcohol license for a temporary event; public hearing settings for several projects (including a water meter replacement and the Decorah Athletic Complex project); acceptance of easements and quitclaim deeds for Vesterheim; and pay application No. 1 for municipal airport hangar work. Roll call for the consent agenda showed votes in favor by Olsen, Whittle, Parker, Miss Solnitich, Zittergruen, Chisel and Neal.

Army Reserve supplemental agreement: The council approved a supplemental agreement with the United States regarding the Army Reserve Center property. Staff said the signed agreement would return land to the city effective March 31 and require the city to replace a short section of fence to match the existing line; estimated fence cost is about $4,500 to $5,000. The agreement proceeds to federal execution after city approval.

Residency policy ordinance: On second reading the council approved an ordinance amending Chapter 2.16 regarding residency policy and later waived the third reading and adopted the ordinance. Council members noted a minor typographical correction in the ordinance language (“form” should read “from”) to be corrected in the final copy.

AFSCME labor contract: The council approved a three-year contract with AFSCME Local 3483 covering non‑police union employees and certain police pay provisions. Key elements listed by staff included a 3% across-the-board increase in year one (with police officers to receive modified step changes), increases in shift differential and investigator pay for police, an adjustment to uniform reimbursement ($100 to $200 treated as reimbursement), parental leave provisions (one week paid parental leave plus eligibility for additional accrued leave), and CPI-based wage increases in years two and three (3% minimum, 5% maximum). The contract also adds certain positions to union coverage as a negotiated item; staff will return to implement related wage-scale details and update city nonunion personnel policies to maintain parity where required.

Votes: All four substantive items passed on roll calls. The council also heard background and public comment on the Hively Street project; that award was tabled to April 7 for further study.

No committee appointments were made during the meeting; staff invited applications for two vacancies on the Decorah Human Rights Commission with an application deadline later in April.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Decorah Council Meeting 03-18-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council passed multiple routine and substantive items, including the consent agenda, a supplemental agreement on the Army Reserve parcel, adoption of a residency policy ordinance and a new AFSCME labor contract.","taxTitle","Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa","taxId",55664,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6122255,"Decorah police department swears in recruit Cale Donlin",166,24000,190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2695395-dd36b920c762a5fc9521d8ee359101cb&start=24&end=190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2695395-dd36b920c762a5fc9521d8ee359101cb/thumbnail_24000.jpg","/articles/6122255/Decorah/Winneshiek-County/Iowa/Decorah-police-department-swears-in-recruit-Cale-Donlin","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122255-3013d3f7baaff3c8ccc5adf687e1c1c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202177&Signature=d5QbW-Q-N3slMYHzNxo-312bWF9fEYfO7o84ui5T5SO4DfJDqu-zihYHIh49Ik64VLi61hmriNJnPJtA66P-KmSMTAYO9CbNj3K75AYum2FzRtVXhOkNNvTQgm3TLJCXYYW7xQAg0dMRSadeOFD4SIWH2-YpI3Pqfctr0iYCQgzliOucMzmc70ndmQ12GedVYeUpb9-oFc9qfQJQeQbXrTHdZCevf7cNoZTidxwLOxpnBeWICsropAvkQnHeM-8FgYTKmQp1zwD1FYHH0mCp-CU0QPgVl6jdMW7fIVNWnFvsZFhTVsBjjYssGzzdL8D-BATl9L37bV4P-cjO67~-QA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At Monday’s Decorah City Council meeting the city and police department formally swore in Cale Donlin as a police officer for the City of Decorah.

Assistant Chief Scott Herman of the Decorah Police Department introduced Donlin, apologized that Chief Tine could not attend, and described the badge and oath as an honor. “I don’t want you to take that lightly. Okay? This is a very serious career, very serious job, but it’s also an honor,” Herman said. He encouraged Donlin to “never stop learning” and to ‘‘be nice’’ when interacting with community members.

Donlin took the oath of office on the council dais. In the recorded oath he said, “I, Cale Donlin, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa, and that I will faithfully and impartially … discharge all the duties of police officer in the city of Decorah, Iowa, as now or hereafter required by law.”

The department followed its customary badge-pinning tradition. Herman invited a family member to pin the badge; the mayor and assembled council members offered brief congratulations after the ceremony.

The swearing-in was recorded on the city calendar and the officer will proceed to the police academy and local field training, officials said. The council did not take separate formal action on the hiring at the meeting’s business section; the ceremony was held as part of the meeting’s opening recognitions.","The Decorah Police Department formally swore in Cale Donlin as a police officer during Monday’s council meeting; Assistant Chief Scott Herman offered remarks and the department performed a badge-pinning tradition.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":46,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6122260,"Decorah council tables Hively Street improvement award after debate over lane width and parking",1765,1387000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2695395-dd36b920c762a5fc9521d8ee359101cb&start=1387&end=3152","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2695395-dd36b920c762a5fc9521d8ee359101cb/thumbnail_1387000.jpg","/articles/6122260/Decorah/Winneshiek-County/Iowa/Decorah-council-tables-Hively-Street-improvement-award-after-debate-over-lane-width-and-parking","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122260-79e74ac2ccb4160593760c22485abfb5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202177&Signature=kBfJUdjLsUQAHj6tsSerCD7GxbLRu23GDG5gW-J3BJjhQOSJb-mpd~jpPEsjjdm9Evsp0faZG6-FQmoLPsYnR2jRyN6-7q5xhIAAiCJwnpGoknfu8ik~~qFaRay-6DOXKn5pXaRVeAXxBUdrX-WEfme2nRT03~FaHfIcduLVBxhkK16eO4XbqoFySIyirsymPdYYbL37lRGrp9cmBKyJWNvu~y-gEV2VQSBi2ZycNd1tPIAp1IpsIf2NV8rIPeIQ8fRw6Jmzi6~N9voqI906uLEWqgSIUPhJD7y7NSrpALInpgFXDp9O8hiRUQ~HLmPMdZBc-oE3V~q~iBeG8vBIgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Decorah City Council on Monday opened a public hearing on the proposed Decorah 2025 Hively Street improvements and then voted to table formal award of the construction contract to April 7 so staff can study a narrower design and potential parking changes.

The project, as bid, would fully replace pavement and underground utilities on Hively Street from near College Drive to Mill Street and add a 10-foot multiuse trail on the north side. City staff said the lone bid, from Skyline Construction Inc., was $2,837,105.22 — $67,105.22 (2.4%) above the engineer’s estimate of $2,770,000.00. Staff recommended award but acknowledged recent public comments asking the council to reconsider the proposed curb-to-curb width and parking layout.

The hearing drew one public commenter, Veronica Remick, who identified herself as the owner of Kingpin Entertainment Center at 2036 Grandview Road. Remick told the council the roadway’s existing width allows drivers to pull over to yield for emergency vehicles and warned that narrowing the street could create turning and safety problems for customers and first responders. “Please don’t change the width of that road,” she said.

City staff and the project engineer reviewed the design and trade-offs. Travis (city staff) summarized the package and confirmed engineers planned a 34-foot curb-to-curb width in the western section with one-side parking and a 43-foot section in the east that would allow parking on both sides. “If we were to reduce the total lane width from 34 to 31 … that would be a cost savings of approximately $50,000,” he told the council, citing calculations by staff and the engineer.

The city’s consultant engineer, John (project engineer), explained durability and drainage implications of narrower sections. He said a 31-foot curb-to-curb cross section is “survivable” but that narrower widths can accelerate edge wear where gutter water enters joints, increasing maintenance needs. He also described how travel lanes, parking stalls, and stormwater flow interact in tight corridors and why SUDAS-style design guidance led to the current 34/43-foot plan.

Council debate emphasized competing goals: long-term pavement longevity and maintenance costs versus pedestrian/bicycle safety, future walkability and placemaking, and short-term construction savings. Councilmember Steve (first name only in the transcript) argued for removing on-street parking through the study area to reduce width, slow traffic and reduce long-term maintenance costs: “I think we should direct staff to redo the plan without the parking, save some money, increase safety, reduce speed, and make a stronger, more fiscally resilient city.” Other council members said they favored a hybrid approach that would preserve some parking for current commercial uses such as the theater and bowling alley.

Several council members and staff urged caution about schedule and procurement rules. City staff said the bid was valid for a standard bid hold period and that some design changes might be handled by a change order if they qualify as “minor” under Iowa Department of Transportation guidance (staff cited a DOT guideline that changes under certain percentage thresholds are often treated as minor). The council also asked staff to talk with the low bidder and the engineer about redesign fees and potential change-order costs ahead of the April 7 vote.

After discussion Councilmember Zittergruen moved to table award of the project to April 7 and ask staff to explore alternatives including narrowing the street to 31 feet in the study area; Councilmember Olson seconded. The motion passed on roll call vote: Zittergruen, Olson, Miss Zielinski and others voting aye; Chisel voting no. Mayor Rosten presided.

The tabling gives staff time to obtain contractor feedback on a potential change order, produce a redraw cost estimate and present alternatives at a March 30 work session and the April 7 council meeting. Staff emphasized that substantial completion for the project was currently scheduled for late November or early December and that a final decision in early April would push the start schedule by roughly three weeks but would not necessarily preclude the contractor from completing work within the current construction season.

The council’s discussion also spotlighted non-pavement provisions in the plan: a continuous 10-foot north-side multiuse trail and two proposed RRFB (rapid rectangular flashing beacon) pedestrian crossings near Mill Street and Mechanic Street, plus high-visibility crosswalk markings. Supporters of the trail called it a significant safety and connectivity improvement for pedestrians and bicyclists; others raised questions about winter maintenance, snowplowing and long-term upkeep of separated facilities.

With the item tabled, staff was directed to prepare cost and design alternatives for the council’s work session on March 30 and for consideration at the April 7 meeting.","After a public hearing and more than an hour of council discussion, the Decorah City Council voted to table awarding the Hively Street reconstruction contract to allow staff to study a narrower 31-foot alternative and other parking changes.","actionData","errors"]

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At a glance: Decorah council approves consent agenda, Army Reserve agreement, AFSCME contract and residency ordinance

Decorah police department swears in recruit Cale Donlin

Decorah council tables Hively Street improvement award after debate over lane width and parking