La Crosse Center board has questions for mayor about downsizing

The La Crosse Center board wants to hear more from the mayor, about any plans for changing the building’s management. 

Mayor Tim Kabat has suggested phasing out the position of civic center director, as part of a plan to streamline the city government. 

But board members argue that the building is run well by a four-person management team, and the team should be kept together as the center is going through a $42 million remodeling. 

The board has requested a meeting with Kabat, to ask for more details about his re-organization plan.   

Center board president Brent Smith says cutting the job of building manager could be a short-term remedy for budget shortfalls, but what happens to the civic center in future years?    

“While we’re all thinking about (building manager) Art (Fahey) and the management team, we also should be thinking big-picture as to what does this mean for the center in 2022, 2023, 2025?” said Smith.

Part of Kabat’s plan might depend on whether Fahey and city engineer Randy Turtenwald retire in the next couple of years.

The center board also wants more time to consider possible advertising slogans for the expanded building.

Vendi Advertising has proposed taglines such as “Magnificent River, Memorable Events” and “Meet on the Mississippi.”

Board members are divided on whether to emphasize the building’s location on the riverfront in its advertising, or to downplay the river as a draw for visitors to the center.