School Board OKs MOU Allowing Construction to Proceed on New Decorah Elementary School

Every dollar helps Decorah News chase down the truth on Water Street, not just headlines. Give today. DECORAH — The Decorah Community School District board approved an agreement Monday with the City of Decorah that allows construction of a new elementary school to begin before several site-related contingencies are completed. During a special meeting Monday afternoon, the school board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the city addressing outstanding conditions connected to the site plan for the district's new John Cline Elementary School. The memorandum outlines the terms under which the city will issue a building permit for the new elementary school project even though certain site plan contingencies approved by the Decorah City Council in December remain incomplete. Under the agreement, the city will issue the building permit while those remaining items are addressed during construction. However, the document specifies that the city will not issue a certificate of occupancy, which is required before a building can be used, until all contingencies connected to the approved site plan have been satisfied. The contingencies involve several legal, engineering and infrastructure steps related to the project site. Among them are the preparation and recording of surveys and plats for parcels near Claiborne Drive and the creation of a proposed "Decorah Schools First Addition." The city and district also must complete and record multiple easement agreements involving sidewalks, stormwater infrastructure, retaining walls and a sanitary sewer easement on district property north of Decorah Bank & Trust. Additional requirements include revisions to the project's stormwater management plan; compliance with state fire marshal regulations and state building codes for fire hydrants and water infrastructure; and submission of signage drawings for approval by the city's zoning administrator. The agreement states that both the city and the district will cooperate to complete the outstanding items while construction proceeds. It also specifies that issuing the building permit does not waive any state or local code requirements or guarantee issuance of a certificate of occupancy until all conditions have been met. Fresh stories, delivered! Sign up for the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and stay informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve.