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Council debates county contribution and CAT grant timing for Decorah Athletic Complex improvements
Summary
The Decorah City Council discussed the Decorah Athletic Complex CAT grant application, fundraising shortfalls and a potential county contribution, and asked staff to solidify pending private pledges and press county supervisors before finalizing the application.
The Decorah City Council discussed the Decorah Athletic Complex Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant application and fundraising status, agreed to press county supervisors for participation, and asked staff and the fundraising committee to solidify pending private gifts before committing final grant application details.
Councilmember (name used as in transcript) Travis introduced the item and said the fundraising committee has been meeting with county supervisors; one supervisor asked whether the county could make a three‑year commitment beginning next year rather than provide immediate funding, and the county staff indicated that would still qualify for CAT grant consideration.
Mark, a fundraising committee member, said the committee has raised roughly half the private funds and outlined a proposal where the county would contribute $100,000 distributed per capita across municipalities; Decorah’s share was cited in the discussion at roughly $71,690. The committee reported a current private fundraising gap of about $254,000 and approximately $90,000 in pending contributions awaiting confirmation.
Staff noted priority items for the CAT grant application: permanent restrooms and concession facilities, and lighting for courts and fields. Staff presented a lighting cost estimate of $529,000 to light the pickleball courts and two ball fields; council discussed reducing that scope to one field to trim the cost (the two fields’ lighting was about $355,000, and removing one field would lower the total by about $175,000). Several council members urged prompt outreach to the county supervisors and to secure confirmations from large private donors before finalizing the grant application.
Council members also discussed whether the school district could contribute to lighting costs; staff recalled earlier conversations where the district had committed to contribute lighting when a racquet complex was planned at a different site, and council asked staff to re‑raise the possibility without speculating on the district’s current capital program.
Council directed staff to continue to lobby county supervisors this week, seek confirmation on pending pledges, and bring updated fundraising and scope numbers to the council meeting next Monday so the city can finalize the CAT grant application on schedule.
