Sustainability Commission Holds Informational Open House at Pulpit Rock Brewing

Decorah Vikings win, City Council votes, New Referenda on the ballot — we're the one telling Decorah's story. Donate now. DECORAH — The Decorah Sustainability Commission used an open house Wednesday to share its work with residents and hear ideas about how the community can become more sustainable. Commission Chair Aaron Detter welcomed attendees and said the commission's role is to advise the City Council on sustainability matters. According to Detter, the work encompasses quality of life, community resilience and efforts to keep Decorah a strong place to live in the future. The commission recently completed an update to its sustainability plan, which the City Council approved last fall. The original plan was developed beginning in 2019, with public involvement and community input. Commission members are now working on actions included in the updated plan. "Community involvement and public involvement is key to the whole effort," Detter explained. Among the commission's numerous areas of work are community composting, solar energy, water quality and transportation. Detter said water quality has become a particular focus recently, including efforts to improve monitoring and partnerships. Transportation work includes considering how people can get around town and how to make the community accessible and welcoming to people with different abilities. Information about those projects was available at tables during the open house, organized around the commission's various subcommittees. Detter also emphasized that much of the actual work outlined in the sustainability plan is ultimately carried out by city employees and community organizations rather than the commission itself, which serves primarily as an advisory body. He said the commission works with city departments through subcommittees and communicates with the City Council. City Manager Travis Goedken also often attends and participates in commission meetings alongside recently appointed City Council liaison Johanna Bergan, Detter said, helping bridge commission work with city staff efforts. The open house also gave residents an opportunity to ask how the commission communicates with the broader community. Detter said the commission's communication and educational outreach subcommittee is considering ways to reach more people, including how the city uses social media. Attendees stressed the importance of local communication and community involvement. Detter said local media remains an important part of keeping residents informed and praised the role of local news in the community. The commission holds public meetings on the third Wednesday of each month at Decorah Public Library and welcomes members of the public to attend, Detter said. The open house was intended not only to explain the commission's work but also to gather community input. "Most of what we do is about listening to the community," Detter said, "and making sure we're turning those values into action at the local level." The projects highlighted at the open house included: 1. Sustainable and Equitable TransportationWhat's happening: Supported mapping and data work to identify deficiencies in Decorah's walking system. Funded improvements to pavement markings along College Drive to increase safety and make walking and bicycling more comfortable and attractive. Why it matters: Replacing car trips with walking and bicycling, particularly for short trips that make up a significant share of daily travel in Decorah, can reduce carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels. It also can reduce traffic congestion and support a healthier, more livable community. 2. Building a Community Composting SystemWhat's happening: Supported a pilot composting program at the yard waste site to divert food waste from the landfill. Worked with County Conservation and Luther College to distribute hundreds of compost bins to local households. Partnered with Luther College and Oneota Community Co-op to collect food waste. Hosted a pumpkin composting event. Why it matters: Food and yard waste make up a large portion of what goes to the landfill. By composting these materials instead, Decorah can reduce waste, create useful soil and support a cleaner, more sustainable community. 3. Supporting Child Care and Environmental EducationWhat's happening: Supported development of the Sunflower Child Development Center, expanding access to local child care for working families. Helped fund an interactive water exhibit that teaches children about local landscapes and healthy water systems. Why it matters: Access to child care affects whether people can live and work in Decorah. By supporting child care and early learning, the community can help families thrive, strengthen the workforce and build a more stable and resilient community. 4. Lowering Energy Costs for Local HouseholdsWhat's happening: Helped fund grants to install efficient heating and cooling systems, including heat pumps, in local apartments. Helped fund an energy planner to visit homes and identify ways to reduce energy use and save money. Focused on housing for lower-income residents who face higher energy burdens. Why it matters: Energy costs are a major expense for many households. By improving how homes are heated and cooled and helping people use less energy, Decorah can lower utility bills, improve comfort and reduce pollution at the same time. 5. Protecting Decorah's WaterWhat's happening: Supported adoption of a stormwater ordinance. Expanded public education, including storm drain stenciling. Supported community engagement to inform Dry Run Creek watershed planning. Supported real-time water quality sensors that measure nitrate levels. Why it matters: Clean water is essential to Decorah's health and environment. By better managing water runoff, planning for flooding and tracking and protecting water quality, the community can support safer drinking water and healthier rivers. 6. Tracking Air QualityWhat's happening: Supported installation of air quality sensors around the community. Partnered with Luther College to collect and understand data. Identified patterns such as seasonal changes and how air moves through the valley. Why it matters: The air people breathe affects their health every day. By tracking air quality locally, Decorah can better understand pollution levels, identify patterns and support actions that lead to cleaner, healthier air. 7. City Government ElectrificationWhat's happening: Supported the use of electric equipment for city operations, replacing gas-powered tools. Helped the city lead by example in adopting cleaner technology. Why it matters: The equipment cities use every day, from mowing to maintenance, adds up over time. By switching to electric options, Decorah can reduce pollution, lower fuel use and create quieter, healthier public spaces. 8. Providing Electric Vehicle ChargingWhat's happening: Supported installation of public electric vehicle charging stations in places people visit, including downtown and the campground. Secured outside funding to help cover installation costs. Monitored charger use to understand how people are using the system. Why it matters: More people are choosing electric vehicles to save money and reduce pollution. By providing places to charge, Decorah makes it easier for residents and visitors to drive electric, supporting cleaner transportation and a healthier community. 9. Solving Issues TogetherWhat's happening: Hosted community forums to bring local leaders together, including businesses, institutions, government and the public. Focused discussions on child care, housing, economic recovery following COVID-19 and policy changes affecting local funding. Why it matters: Many of Decorah's biggest challenges can't be solved by one group alone. By bringing people together, the community can better understand these issues, align efforts and take more effective action. 10. Understanding the Community's Carbon FootprintWhat's happening: Funded greenhouse gas studies measuring emissions from energy use and establishing a baseline for the amount of emissions produced by the community. Why it matters: By measuring where emissions come from, Decorah can make smarter choices about energy use, transportation and buildings, helping reduce pollution and move toward cleaner, more efficient systems. 11. Producing Clean EnergyWhat's happening: Supported the installation of solar panels at the Street Department and Pulpit Rock Campground, lowering long-term energy costs for city operations. Calculated how much energy comes from renewable sources across the city. Why it matters: Producing energy locally from the sun reduces pollution and can lower costs over time. By investing in solar, Decorah is taking practical steps toward cleaner energy while saving money on the services residents rely on every day. Your inbox, upgraded! Subscribe for free and enjoy handpicked stories, helpful advice, and local insights delivered weekly.