Business
Update on group studying La Crosse city administrator position
More public comment is needed before La Crosse’s city council decides whether to appoint a city administrator, according to the city council members tasked with studying the position.
The plan for a full-time administrator to manage city business was brought to the council last fall, but was postponed for seven months so more study could be done.
At Wednesday’s meeting, the group may ask the rest of the council to extend the study period until late this year or early 2026 — mainly to get more suggestions from the public.
Members of the study group met Wednesday with a Madison consultant, who is advising them on the potential need for a professional, unelected administrator, potentially working alongside the elected mayor.
The idea has not been put to a public hearing yet, though the public can weigh in with anyone on the city council and watch the study group’s meetings.
The proposal is expected to come before the council’s Judiciary and Administration Committee on Tuesday.
Bob N.
April 24, 2025 at 6:41 am
We’ll soon see if this new mayor has any leadership qualities.
If he does, he’ll steer the Council towards a referendum on the question.
If he doesn’t, he’ll be an advocate for radically changing La Crosse’s city government with little input, while brand-new on the job.
Frank
April 24, 2025 at 9:03 am
If a city manager is recommended, do we need a mayor?? It seems that President of City Council could perform the remaining duties of the Mayor if a city manager were hired. I am virtually certain a manager would be an expensive proposition which could effect funds available for needed projects…LIKE ROAD REPAIRS.
nick
April 24, 2025 at 11:21 am
I want to make sure that when we hear. The compensation it is the total of salary and benefits plus any perks.
In addition, how much are we paying the consultant and the consultant’s credentials.
Shoddy reporting as usual.
LG
April 24, 2025 at 6:38 pm
All of us lacrosse residents will soon be paying even higher taxes. The new mayor is on record as being in support of creating the city administrator position. He was in support of it before any information was provided by City Council members who were studying the issue. The school district is running amock with regard to their spending. They are busy building buildings in a district with too many buildings. They are busy remodeling Central High school to turn space needed for the education of students into office space for administrators with with a project that went from 500,000 to 1.5 million. They have not factored in cost overruns for the teardown and building project on the Hogan administrative site. They never factor in 20 years of debt and resulting interest from borrowing money they do not have. And they still have not addressed the operational budget deficit preferring to deal with that another day. And the community just elected 2 more big spending liberals endorsed by the Democratic Party onto the school board. And the city council member elected to district 13, is delinquent on her taxes. Before you take that message down WIZM, please know this is public information available on the county parcel search portal for anyone that wants to see it. I’m just doing the work for you.