The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission will present its 2024 Preservation Award to Dean and Lois Humpal and their daughter Chanda for their efforts to preserve and renovate more than a dozen historic homes in Decorah over the past twenty years.

The public is invited to attend the award ceremony on Wednesday, May 22 from 4:00 until 5:30 p.m. at Decorah Municipal Center, 400 W. Claiborne Dr., in the City Council Chambers.  The ceremony will begin shortly after 4:00 p.m. and will include a slideshow of many of the Humpals’ renovated Decorah homes. Light refreshments will be served.

The couple’s first major project in Decorah was converting the 1910 Queen Anne style home at 305 W. Broadway from a duplex into a fully-appointed bed and breakfast with four guest rooms and a luxury suite. With the help of their children and contractors, they completed the work in just six months, opening the B&B on Broadway in time to host guests at Luther College’s 2006 graduation.

Although neither Dean nor Lois had any formal training in construction, they grew up on farms where “both of us learned how to fix things and to work hard,” Lois commented. They also learned from contractors – working alongside them in many cases. They involved Chanda and their other five children in much of the renovation work.

When renovating historic homes, the Humpals try to preserve any unique features, update basic systems, and keep changes appropriate to a home’s time period. Their modifications generally include added insulation, updated wiring and plumbing, refinished original floors, remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, fresh paint, and landscaping. Some work is done by them, some by contractors, and some with both  working side by side.

Lois, Dean and Chanda have lived in many of the homes they’ve renovated.  They currently reside in a 1938 International Style/Art Deco duplex at 608 Vernon St. that was designed by Decorah architect Charles Altfillisch. They purchased and began renovating it in 2021. They’ve also owned and renovated two other Altfillisch-designed homes at 401 E. Broadway and 302 Upper Broadway, both of which they’ve since sold.

“The Humpals seem driven by their passions for historic homes, antiques, and an admiration of the outstanding craftsmanship one finds in many older homes,” noted commissioner Judy van der Linden. “Our preservation award celebrates their impressive contribution to Decorah’s  visual streetscape since they began their first historic home renovation in 2006. I hope the public will join us on May 22 to recognize them,”  she continued.

The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission is a state-certified city board established in 2007 to promote the public’s educational and economic welfare through the recognition of historic sites. The DHPC has given an annual award since 2008. For a list of previous awards, see Award Recipients – City of Decorah Iowa (decorahia.org).

Contact the commission by email at: historicpreservation@decorahia.org.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CITY OF DECORAH 2024 WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY UPGRADE PROJECT IS ELIGIBLE FOR A CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FROM NEPA REVIEW. THIS PROJECT IS BEING FUNDED IN PART OR WHOLE BY SRF FUNDING.

The proposed project was reviewed by the Iowa  Department  of  Natural  Resources (DNR} for eligibility for a categorical exclusion from NEPA review specified in the 40 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 6.204. The project meets all criteria described in the above reference, and it was determined that this project is eligible for a categorical exclusion. Consequently, a preliminary decision has been made that a Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) will not be prepared.

This action is taken on the basis of a careful review of supporting information that is on file at the DNR’s Des Moines, Iowa office. The Categorical Exclusion documentation for this project is available online at https://www.iowasrf.com/environmental-review/. The DNR will not take any administrative action on the project for at least thirty (30} calendar days from the publication of this Notice. Persons disagreeing with the above environmental decision may submit comments to SRF-PC@dnr.iowa.gov during this period. For further information, please contact Jean Mayne at Jean.Mayne@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-491-7565.

Please join the City of Decorah and the Decorah Tree Board on May 4, 2024, as we celebrate Arbor Day by planting 25 trees on various boulevards throughout the city.  Before we begin planting, the City Forester and Decorah Tree Board will give a planting demonstration outlining proper planting techniques and how to care for a tree after it is planted.  This planting, along with several others that will be carried out by the City of Decorah and Decorah Tree Board throughout the year, has been made possible through a grant received from the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program and the Arbor Day Foundation.

What:  Arbor Day celebration – planting 25 trees

When:  May 4 at 8:30AM, May 11 at 8:30AM, May 18 at 8:30AM

Where:  Begins at City of Decorah Street Department located at 108 Railroad Avenue

For more information, please contact Sam Hogenson, City Forester, at (563)277-5153 or by email at:  cityforester@decorah.iowa.gov