John Bilsten, General Manager at Algona Municipal Utilities, will present, “Charting the Course for Algona’s Future:  Jobs, Stewardship, and Energy Independence,” Monday, November 6 at a noon brownbag at City Hall.

Algona Municipal Utilities is a community-owned water, electric, cable television, high speed internet and telephone utility that serves Algona and the surrounding area. The organization is very active in renewable energy initiatives and owns a small, three-turbine wind farm. John Bilsten, who has served as General Manager since 1999, is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a B.A. in Public Administration. Bilsten is a past President of the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU), served on the Advisory Council of the Iowa Energy Center, served on the Iowa Power Fund Board, and is a current member of the Board of the Iowa Public Power Agency; the IAMU Insurance Trust Committee; IAMU Legislative and Regulatory Committee; IAMU Energy Efficiency Committee; and the Board of the North Iowa Municipal Electric Cooperative Association.

The presentation is part of a Decorah Power Learning Series designed to investigate the opportunities and challenges involved in a Decorah municipal electric utility—a locally owned, city utility that would provide electricity services in the same way it provides water and sewer services. With the support of the City Council, local citizens group Decorah Power is conducting a feasibility study with privately-raised funds. The study is expected to be completed before the end of the year.