THE CITY OF DECORAH HAS HELD OFF ON PURCHASING SOME LAND IN THE DOWNING SUBDIVSION ON DECORAH’S EAST SIDE THE ISSUE WAS DISCUSSED BY THE COMMUNITY BETTERMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MONDAY NIGHT. CITY MANAGER CHAD BIRD SAYS IF THE CITY DECIDES TO FINANCE A PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY NINE UTILITY EXTENSION PROJECT WITH TAX INCREMENTAL FINANCING DOLLARS, THERE WILL BE A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSING REQUIREMENT TO GO ALONG WITH THE TIF FINANCING. BIRD ALSO SAID COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE UNSURE IF THE AREA ON DECORAH’S EAST SIDE IS THE BEST PLACE FOR L-M-I HOUSING. BIRD SAYS THE COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE BOTH ISSUES.
A MAN WHO WAS FINED AFTER HOLDING A MUSIC FESTIVAL AT THE CHIMNEY ROCK CAMPGROUND LAST SUMMER DISCUSSED SOME CONCERNS WITH THE WINNESHIEK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THIS WEEK. KYLE SORENSEN PUT ON THE FESTIVAL, WHICH COUNTY OFFICIALS SAID REQUIRED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WHICH WAS NEVER APPLIED FOR. SORENSEN TOLD THE BOARD HE WASN’T TRYING TO DO ANYTHING ILLEGAL, BUT HE WAS UNAWARE HE WAS BREAKING THE LAW. SORENSEN CRITICIZED THE BOARD AND ZONING ADMINISTRATOR TONY PHILLIPS FOR NOT INFORMING HIM OF THE PERMITS WHICH WERE NECESSARY TO HOLD THE FESTIVAL. SORENSEN ALSO SUGGESTED THE WORDING IN THE ZONIGN ORDINANCE NEEDED TO BE LESS VAGUE, SOMETHING THE BOARD AND HIM AGREED ON. THE COUNTY HAS HIRED YAGGY COLBY TO ASSIST COUNTY OFFICIALS WITH UPDATING THE ZONING ORDINANCE. SUPERVISORS CHAIR JOHN LOGSDON TOLD SORENSEN HE NOW KNOWS THE PROCESS TO AVOID PENALTIES AND FINES FROM THE COUNTY.
LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING TO WRAP UP THE 2014 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROGER THOMAS OF ELKADER SAYS THE DISAGREEMENTS AREN’T ALWAYS ONE PARTY AGAINST THE OTHER.
THOMAS
THOMAS SAYS THEY’RE BASICALLY DOWN TO BUDGET BILLS TO DEAL WITH IT. LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING TO NOT REACH THE 100TH DAY OF THE SESSION, AFTER GOING PAST 100 DAYS THE LAST 3 YEARS.
THE DECORAH FIRE DEPARTMENT IS RELEASING OF A SUNDAY AFTERNOON CALL. FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THEY WERE CALLED TO THE ANDREW PETERSON RESIDENCE AT 3377 223RD AVENUE ON A REPORT OF A BUILDING ON FIRE. A GARAGE ON THE PROPERTY WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS RULED ACCIDENTIAL.
DECORAH POLICE ARRESTED TWO MEN AFTER EXECUTING A SEARCH WARRANT ON THE LUTHER COLLEGE CAMPUS LAST NIGHT. POLICE SAY 19 YEAR OLD KENYA O’NEAL OF GEORGIA WAS CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO DELIVER A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, A CLASS D FELONY. POLICE SAY 19 YEAR OLD MARCO PEREZ-ALMANZA OF CHICAGO WAS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. THE INVESTIGATION LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 21.7 GRAMS OF MARIJUANA AS WELL AS OTHER EVIDENCE CONSISTENT WITH DELIVERY OF MARIJUANA.
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