DECORAH - Concern over a proposed tire burning plant in southern Minnesota has drifted as far south as Decorah.

The City Council Tuesday adopted a resolution requesting an environmental impact study be undertaken before the plant is built in Preston, Minn.

The vote was unanimous, even though council member Gary Rustad questioned whether the city should involved itself in another city's matters.

Council member Steve Matter, who proposed the resolution, said area residents need more information about the impact of such

Rustad said his constituents have asked him why the council would become involved in Preston's business when Decorah has "enough battles" of its own.

"You've done enough to discourage business in Northeast Iowa, now you want to take on woutheast Minnesota," Rustad told Matter.

Lanesboro attorney David Williams, who urged passage, said the issue goes beyond the environment.

"This is not just a tree-hugger kind of problem," Williams said. "We are aware of economic problems. It's already begun to devalue properties in Fillmore County even before it's been built - it's chased away potential visitors and people who wanted to move into this area.

"This is a highly recreational area, and we want to keep it this way."

Council member Jerry Aulwes said there is a substantial amount of information on the plant to be reviewed, and suggested the city may want to take even a stronger stand due to the potential environmental impact.

"I'd like to get this started. If we choose, we could further strengthen this later," Matter said. The resolution also requests Iowa Sens. Charles Grassley and Tom Harkin, Rep. Tom Latham and Gov. Tom Vilsack to address the issue.

Council member Paul Wanless supported the resolution, but questioned whether all the information the city has received is accurate.

"There are two sides to most issues - most of our information is from one of those," he said.

The proposed Heartland Energy and Recycling Plant would burn 10 million tires per year and emit 2 tons of pollutants every day, including arsenic, lead, PCBs, dioxin and numerous other pollutants, according to the resolution approved by the city.

The 210-foot smokestack would send the emissions over area farms, waterways and cities, it said.