Decorah City Council Delays Contract Award for Athletic Complex to Allow For Further Fundraising

Your financial contribution empowers watchdog reporting that protects and informs us all. DECORAH — The Decorah City Council on Monday delayed awarding a $2.8 million contract to Skyline Construction for the planned Decorah Athletic Complex, opting instead to give the community two more weeks to raise additional funds that could help expand the project. Skyline Construction submitted the lowest of three bids, with a base bid of $2,097,727.33 which was 21.5% below the engineer's estimate. Including all proposed alternates, the total cost would be $2,841,006.08. The project includes two 280-foot ball diamonds and eight pickleball courts, along with fencing, grading, paving, stormwater infrastructure, and landscaping. The Decorah Parks and Recreation Board voted unanimously last week to recommend awarding the base bid to Skyline and prioritized three alternates: sod installation for one field, a third ballfield, and a batting cage. Park Board Director Marc Holtey noted that a third field would improve tournament hosting, field rotation, and overall programming flexibility. "We're putting out a call to the public, that if in two weeks we have that extra $400,000 or $500,000... then we can do this," City Manager Travis Goedken said at that meeting. As of that meeting, the project had $1.5 million in committed public funding, including hotel/motel taxes, WQI funds and proceeds from a land sale, along with $520,000 raised in private donations. Goedken said the project team is exploring cost-saving options. For example, using asphalt instead of concrete for the pickleball courts could save $80,000, though concrete would last longer. Staff also advised against higher-cost alternates, such as vinyl fencing and paved parking, to preserve budget flexibility. At Monday's meeting, council members voiced strong support for the delay and praised the efforts of staff and volunteers. "It's important to me that we not just build two ball fields when if we all come together and raise money, we can do three," Council Member Steve Zittergruen said. "It's important to me that we do these things as well as possible. These next two weeks are where those things happen." "Let's give [them] the two weeks. Let's make this happen sooner rather than later," added Council Member Randy Schissel. Fundraising committee member Harlan Satrom said more than $600,000 had been raised and additional pledges are in progress. "I don't think fundraising is actually your issue," Satrom said during the public hearing. "I think the real issue is determining what would be the best facility to have out there for everybody concerned." Council Member Kirsten Olson "tipped his hat" to Holtey, Satrom, and Goedken, thanking them for the "tremendous job" they had done on fundraising so far. Mayor Lorraine Borowski announced that she would be committing funds, holding a pledge form aloft, and urged attendees to do the same if they were interested. The council unanimously approved a motion to table the resolution until August 18. Join the community of savvy subscribers (for free)! Get the latest updates, tips, and insider information by subscribing to the free newsletter today.