After breaking down some COVID-19 numbers, US Congressman Ron Kind talked about a slew of things from paid sick leave to farming struggles. After that, La Crosse County Health Dept. director Jen Rombalski talked about how the area is dealing with COVID-19. 

After breaking down some COVID-19 numbers, US Congressman Ron Kind talked about a slew of things from paid sick leave to farming struggles. After that, La Crosse County Health Dept. director Jen Rombalski talked about how the area is dealing with COVID-19.&nbsp;

Listener conversations about the days events in and around the La Crosse area.  Weekdays from 5-6pm on WIZM 1410AM and 92.3FM

La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

WIZM - La Crosse

Congressman Ron Kind, and the La Crosse health dept. director

City council president Tamra Dickinson in studio helping discuss regulating e-bikes, defining downtown, and the missing public meeting on city admin while the public hears about pools and Pearl Street.

We open the show though with a quick nugget about why United Airlines is delaying flights between La Crosse and Chicago until October. We also talked quick about filling city committee roles and whether to consolidate some of those meetings.

The two big topics though were about the council meeting Thursday over e-bike regulations, which deal somewhat with whether Riverside Park is part of downtown (because you can't bike on sidewalks downtown). 

After that, Dickinson was asked where the city administrator conversation is happening. While the city conducts public meetings on a potential indoor aquatics center and a new look for Pearl Street downtown, nothing has come on city administrator — which has been a focal point of city government talks for two years. 

Also, with the city council having intensive conversations in committee and at monthly meetings over the budget, we talked about how a city administrator might facilitate those talks.

We also hit on the council having final say on historic status of buildings, including Emerson Elementary School, the city cutting down trees on Rose Street, Drift Cycle spots on the north side.

City council president Tamra Dickinson in studio helping discuss regulating e-bikes, defining downtown, and the missing public meeting on city admin while the public hears about pools and Pearl Street.
We open the show though with a quick nugget about why United Airlines is delaying flights between La Crosse and Chicago until October. We also talked quick about filling city committee roles and whether to consolidate some of those meetings.
The two big topics though were about the council meeting Thursday over e-bike regulations, which deal somewhat with whether Riverside Park is part of downtown (because you can't bike on sidewalks downtown).&nbsp;
After that, Dickinson was asked where the city administrator conversation is happening. While the city conducts public meetings on a potential indoor aquatics center and a new look for Pearl Street downtown, nothing has come on city administrator &mdash; which has been a focal point of city government talks for two years.&nbsp;
Also, with the city council having intensive conversations in committee and at monthly meetings over the budget, we talked about how a city administrator might facilitate those talks.
We also hit on the council having final say on historic status of buildings, including Emerson Elementary School, the city cutting down trees on Rose Street, Drift Cycle spots on the north side.

Council president Dickinson on regulating e-bikes and the missing city admin talk while La Crosse has pool and Pearl Street meetings

Mac Kiel in studio helping break down what’s happening in La Crosse city government, including a look at e-bike regulation and why the seems to be no city administrator conversation, while we’re conducing pool and Pearl Street meetings.

First, though, Kiel talks a bit about the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting’s discussing Thursday about the budget. Kiel talks about how the council had some good questions for the finance director on why the city puts its budget together the way it does. This was a topic last year, as the city scrambled to balance the budget and talked about the same dilemma with the order it’s constructed.

After that, we weaved a city administrator conversation into the public meetings the city is having surrounding the potential building of a $30 million indoor aquatics facility and the other public meeting about a new vision for Pearl Street downtown.

Lastly, we talked about the Judiciary and Administrative Committee’s look at what could be considered regulation or deregulation when it comes to e-bikes and e-scooters. It’s illegal to bike in Riverside Park? That was one part of the conversation.

Mac Kiel in studio helping break down what&rsquo;s happening in La Crosse city government, including a look at e-bike regulation and why the seems to be no city administrator conversation, while we&rsquo;re conducing pool and Pearl Street meetings.
First, though, Kiel talks a bit about the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting&rsquo;s discussing Thursday about the budget. Kiel talks about how the council had some good questions for the finance director on why the city puts its budget together the way it does. This was a topic last year, as the city scrambled to balance the budget and talked about the same dilemma with the order it&rsquo;s constructed.
After that, we weaved a city administrator conversation into the public meetings the city is having surrounding the potential building of a $30 million indoor aquatics facility and the other public meeting about a new vision for Pearl Street downtown.
Lastly, we talked about the Judiciary and Administrative Committee&rsquo;s look at what could be considered regulation or deregulation when it comes to e-bikes and e-scooters. It&rsquo;s illegal to bike in Riverside Park? That was one part of the conversation.

Regulating e-bikes and why the city admin conversation isn’t like the indoor pool talk

Chamber of Commerce talk

Sam Scinta wears a few different hats in the Coulee Region. He’s the CEO of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce. He's a political science professor at both UW-La Crosse and Viterbo, where he's also involved with servant leadership.

So, naturally, we brought Scinta on the Rick Solem Show to spend most of our time talking about ... movies? It'll make sense when you listen, but we did eventually wrap up with the state of the Chamber.

Scinta co-hosts the Civics and Cinema program that's been going on the past two years at the Rivoli Theatre. Along with Dr. Rick Kyte — director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership — the two invite the public to come watch a historical movie, followed by a group discussion about its impact.

Scinta sees the series as a way to step back from the current political noise and use classic films to talk about the fundamental building blocks of a healthy community. It’s less about a current events Q&A and more about a shared experience in a dark theater that gets people thinking about our civic responsibilities in a different way.

This month, they'll be watching the 1976 Watergate classic, All the President’s Men. We talked why Hollywood doesn't really make "adult" movies — Scinta's word — like this anymore — films that drive real conversation. The screening will happen at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Rivoli. The cost is $5 and 100% of the proceeds go back to local nonprofits.

We did wrap up the conversation by getting into what exactly the Chamber of Commerce is and who is actually involved. Scinta admits it’s a bit of a "mystical entity" to some, but it's really a network that includes thousands of local employees — from the big corporations down to the one-man shops and even college students.

We also hit on the "big three" issues the Chamber is looking at right now, like the push for a city administrator in La Crosse and how the region is going to handle the "demographic cliff" and keep young talent in the area.

Sam Scinta wears a few different hats in the Coulee Region. He&rsquo;s the CEO of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce. He's a political science professor at both UW-La Crosse and Viterbo, where he's also involved with servant leadership.
So, naturally, we brought Scinta on the Rick Solem Show to spend most of our time talking about ... movies? It'll make sense when you listen, but we did eventually wrap up with the state of the Chamber.
Scinta co-hosts the Civics and Cinema program that's been going on the past two years at the Rivoli Theatre. Along with Dr. Rick Kyte &mdash; director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership &mdash; the two invite the public to come watch a historical movie, followed by a group discussion about its impact.
Scinta sees the series as a way to step back from the current political noise and use classic films to talk about the fundamental building blocks of a healthy community. It&rsquo;s less about a current events Q&amp;A and more about a shared experience in a dark theater that gets people thinking about our civic responsibilities in a different way.
This month, they'll be watching the 1976 Watergate classic, All the President&rsquo;s Men. We talked why Hollywood doesn't really make "adult" movies &mdash; Scinta's word &mdash; like this anymore &mdash; films that drive real conversation. The screening will happen at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Rivoli. The cost is $5 and 100% of the proceeds go back to local nonprofits.
We did wrap up the conversation by getting into what exactly the Chamber of Commerce is and who is actually involved. Scinta admits it&rsquo;s a bit of a "mystical entity" to some, but it's really a network that includes thousands of local employees &mdash; from the big corporations down to the one-man shops and even college students.
We also hit on the "big three" issues the Chamber is looking at right now, like the push for a city administrator in La Crosse and how the region is going to handle the "demographic cliff" and keep young talent in the area.

Congressman Ron Kind, and the La Crosse health dept. director

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