Working For Decorah
Here are a few issues that Andy believes we Decorah residents need to prioritize.
Business Development
Andy believes Decorah has always prided itself on its local family-owned businesses. Many townspeople make it a point to support local businesses. Andy would love to continue to find ways to support our small businesses while also finding ways to entice new and large commercial development to come to town. Decorah has a business park that is ready for more continued development and expansion.
Housing
Decorah is in desperate need of more affordable housing and workforce housing. Our community needs to be accessible to all socioeconomic backgrounds. Andy believes we’re starting to see a lack of socioeconomic diversity in Decorah and the town is no longer attainable to everyone like it once was. Andy would love to try to reverse that trend. He will do his best to find solutions, whether that be through public means or through private firms.
Infrastructure
We have hundreds of miles of roads, water and sewer, and various other city framework that require our immediate attention. Andy wants to focus on our preexisting infrastructure and ensure that we take care of what we already have. He wants to be proactive instead of reactive, getting out ahead of problems instead of waiting for them to happen.
Lower Taxes
The continued rising cost of property taxes has many of our older residents concerned as many are on fixed incomes. Andy will do his best to lower residents’ tax burdens, but feels that we really need to focus on our elderly neighbors in particular. He believes that by encouraging new commercial business development we can gain more local option sales tax. He thinks we could also explore the idea of creating local relief programs with possible rebates or fee reductions.
Education
Decorah is lucky to have such assets in Luther College and the Decorah Community School District. The economic impact that Luther has on Decorah from employment, student spending, tourism, and events is significant. Similarly, the charm and vitality of Decorah helps draw students to Luther. Andy looks forward to fostering this mutually beneficial relationship between the city of Decorah and Luther College.
Decorah Community School District is also a huge asset to the community and is a major attraction to families who are considering a move to the community. The public schools were one of many reasons Andy wanted to start a family in Decorah. Many small rural towns in Iowa struggle to retain their students post graduation. Decorah is lucky that so many graduates return home to work and raise their own families here. These two talent pipelines of Luther College and the Decorah Community Schools need to continue to be strong in order for Decorah to thrive.