La Crosse city administrator public hearings could be scheduled soon

After over a year of discussion at La Crosse City Hall about hiring a city administrator, there may be public hearings soon.

A special study committee looking into the administrator idea is working on ways to get more public comment on the concept. Formal hearings have not been held yet.

That’s given as one reason why the city council twice has postponed an actual decision on whether to hire an administrator.

Study committee members have debated the idea of a public survey, perhaps by mailing information to city residents in their utility bills.

At May’s city council meeting, another vote on whether to create the job of administrator was put off for nine months — until February.

They had originally scheduled a vote last October, at the request of then-Mayor Mitch Reynolds, but postponed action until this month. Citing the need for public input, the council again delayed a decision.

The working group studying the idea has been meeting twice monthly for seven months, including discussions with a government consultant.

At Wednesday’s meeting, council member Larry Sleznikow said that if it wants to schedule a council vote before early 2026, the decision to have a vote come sooner might have to be made by new Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey, who is a supporter of the idea.

Washington-Spivey spoke about the administrator idea on WIZM’s La Crosse Talk after the council delayed a decision at its last meeting.

La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk wherever you get your podcasts.