While part of the national talking point since the George Floyd murder in Minneapolis has hovered around defunding the police, in La Crosse it could be the exact opposite. Part of potential plans for the city, a $36 million police/fire center. La Crosse city council members Doug Happel and Jessica Olson both joined to discuss Thursday's vote. Before that, talked a bit about the mayor's wife being changed after getting pepper sprayed. 

While part of the national talking point since the George Floyd murder in Minneapolis has hovered around defunding the police, in La Crosse it could be the exact opposite. Part of potential plans for the city, a $36 million police/fire center. La Crosse city council members Doug Happel and Jessica Olson both joined to discuss Thursday's vote. Before that, talked a bit about the mayor's wife being changed after getting pepper sprayed.&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

FUNDING the police?

Show overview

What Rick missed last week

City admin  is back

Recapping council

Ranking committees

We rank the Top 10 most important La Crosse city committees, discuss what happens next with another city administrator vote and recap last week’s monthly city council meeting with Mac Kiel.

 

First up, we tackled city administrator, which is back on the agenda for August.

We announce that we’ll be working with the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce on the show, over the next four weeks, to discuss all things city administrator ahead of the vote. The chamber has endorsed the idea of La Crosse having a city administrator.

This was last on the agenda in February and we discuss how it didn’t pass a super majority and that nothing has really been done by the city or the council since — despite a lot of conversations to do so.

After that, we highlight key moments from last week’s city council meeting, including: 
Using $1.8 million in TID 14 money for affordable housing in a way that has no time restrictions
Creating two other TID districts
Zoning approval for the Bridgeview housing complex

Regarding the Bridgeview housing, we discuss how this zoning shift isn’t an approval of the final build plan, and why the discussion hovered around the vast amount of parking developers have allotted.

We also relate that to the Cowboy Jack’s restaurant proposal going through council in the Riverpoint District — and just how much riverfront parking is planned there.

Lastly, Kiel ranks the Top 10 city committees — in which there are over 50 in total.

Before legislation ever hits the full council, it gets hashed out in committees where the public can learn and provide input. Not only do we go through the rankings, but we also discuss how some of the most powerful committees — like the Board of Public Works or the Library Board — don’t require council approval to act.

We started the show, though hitting on some things that happened over the past week, including
The school district receiving the old Trane headquarters building as a donation
David Crowley leaving leaving the Wisconsin governor’s race and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez’s campaign manager being fired
Lindsey Graham — not Mitch McConnell — passing away

Kiel is a former La Crosse City Council member, who is an advocate for providing the public with what is happening with city government. She also serves on some city boards and works with the unsheltered population.

Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on Spotify, Apple Podcast or here. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)

We rank the Top 10 most important La Crosse city committees, discuss what happens next with another city administrator vote and recap last week&rsquo;s monthly city council meeting with Mac Kiel.
&nbsp;
First up, we tackled city administrator, which is back on the agenda for August.
We announce that we&rsquo;ll be working with the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce on the show, over the next four weeks, to discuss all things city administrator ahead of the vote. The chamber has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/01/15/chamber-ceo-talks-about-la-crosse-city-administrator-position/">endorsed the idea</a>&nbsp;of La Crosse having a city administrator.
This was last on the agenda in February and we discuss how it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/02/12/city-administrator-plan-falls-short-of-needed-majority-by-la-crosse-city-council/">didn&rsquo;t pass a super majority</a>&nbsp;and that nothing has really been done by the city or the council since &mdash; despite a lot of conversations to do so.
After that, we highlight key moments from last week&rsquo;s city council meeting, including:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Using $1.8 million in TID 14 money for affordable housing in a way that has no time restrictions</li>
<li>Creating two other TID districts</li>
<li>Zoning approval for the Bridgeview housing complex</li>
</ul>
Regarding the Bridgeview housing, we discuss how this zoning shift isn&rsquo;t an approval of the final build plan, and why the discussion hovered around the vast amount of parking developers have allotted.
We also relate that to the Cowboy Jack&rsquo;s restaurant proposal going through council in the Riverpoint District &mdash; and just how much riverfront parking is planned there.
Lastly, Kiel ranks the Top 10 city committees &mdash; in which there are&nbsp;<a href="https://cityoflacrosse.legistar.com/Departments.aspx">over 50 in total</a>.
Before legislation ever hits the full council, it gets hashed out in committees where the public can learn and provide input. Not only do we go through the rankings, but we also discuss how some of the most powerful committees &mdash; like the Board of Public Works or the Library Board &mdash; don&rsquo;t require council approval to act.
We started the show, though hitting on some things that happened over the past week, including
<ul>
<li>The school district&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/07/06/trane-technologies-donates-pammel-creek-site-to-school-district/">receiving the old Trane headquarters</a>&nbsp;building as a donation</li>
<li>David Crowley leaving leaving the Wisconsin governor&rsquo;s race and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez&rsquo;s campaign manager being fired</li>
<li>Lindsey Graham &mdash; not Mitch McConnell &mdash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/07/12/us-sen-lindsey-graham-has-died-after-a-brief-and-unexpected-illness-his-office-says/">passing away</a></li>
</ul>
Kiel is a former La Crosse City Council member, who is an advocate for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MacKielforCityCouncil">providing the public&nbsp;</a>with what is happening with city government. She also serves on some city boards and works with the unsheltered population.
<hr>
Listen live weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Find the pod on&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1k1QCGhGrFA5KH9Rxh6fIO">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/la-crosse-talk-pm-wizm/id1445077021">Apple Podcast</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/la-crosse-talk-pm-with-rick-solem/">here</a>. Tune in on the WIZM app or on air at 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska)

Mac Kiel's Top 10 city committees, recapping council, and city admin is back

La Crosse City Council Representative Aron Newberry joined the show in studio to discuss the city's projected $8 million budget shortfall, the recent 18-month moratorium on AI data centers, and how La Crosse's public pools and libraries compare to other municipalities across Wisconsin.


The $8 Million Budget Gap: The budget conversation came just a few days after a Budget Parameter Committee meeting that consisted of Finance and Personnel members, along with Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey.


Pools vs. Libraries: We broke down a recent post by Newberry comparing La Crosse’s current infrastructure—two public pools and one public library—against similar-sized cities across Wisconsin.


AI Data Center Moratoriums: We also discussed what needs to be done about data centers, just a few weeks after La Crosse County passed both a study committee and an 18-month moratorium on the structures. While the county passed a resolution, it isn’t sweeping. Other counties are currently trying to pass their own bans or considering allowing them to be built. Newberry is urging residents to support a petition for legislators to pass a statewide moratorium and utility rate cap.

La Crosse City Council Representative Aron Newberry joined the show in studio to discuss the city's projected $8 million budget shortfall, the recent 18-month moratorium on AI data centers, and how La Crosse's public pools and libraries compare to other municipalities across Wisconsin.
<ul data-path-to-node="10">
<li>
The $8 Million Budget Gap: The budget conversation came just a few days after a <a href="La%20Crosse%20City%20Council%20Representative%20Aron%20Newberry%20joined%20the%20show%20in%20studio%20to%20discuss%20the%20city's%20projected%20$8%20million%20budget%20shortfall,%20the%20recent%2018-month%20moratorium%20on%20AI%20data%20centers,%20and%20how%20La%20Crosse's%20public%20pools%20and%20libraries%20compare%20to%20other%20municipalities%20across%20Wisconsin.%20%20The%20$8%20Million%20Budget%20Gap:%20The%20budget%20conversation%20came%20just%20a%20few%20days%20after%20a%20Budget%20Parameter%20Committee%20meeting%20that%20consisted%20of%20Finance%20and%20Personnel%20members,%20along%20with%20Mayor%20Shaundel%20Washington-Spivey.%20%20Pools%20vs.%20Libraries:%20We%20broke%20down%20a%20recent%20post%20by%20Newberry%20comparing%20La%20Crosse&rsquo;s%20current%20infrastructure&mdash;two%20public%20pools%20and%20one%20public%20library&mdash;against%20similar-sized%20cities%20across%20Wisconsin.%20%20AI%20Data%20Center%20Moratoriums:%20We%20also%20discussed%20what%20needs%20to%20be%20done%20about%20data%20centers,%20just%20a%20few%20weeks%20after%20La%20Crosse%20County%20passed%20both%20a%20study%20committee%20and%20an%2018-month%20moratorium%20on%20the%20structures.%20While%20the%20county%20passed%20a%20resolution,%20it%20isn&rsquo;t%20sweeping.%20Other%20counties%20are%20currently%20trying%20to%20pass%20their%20own%20bans%20or%20considering%20allowing%20them%20to%20be%20built.%20Newberry%20is%20urging%20residents%20to%20support%20a%20petition%20for%20legislators%20to%20pass%20a%20statewide%20moratorium%20and%20utility%20rate%20cap.">Budget Parameter Committee meeting</a> that consisted of Finance and Personnel members, along with Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey.
</li>
<li>
Pools vs. Libraries: We broke down a recent post by Newberry comparing La Crosse&rsquo;s current infrastructure&mdash;two public pools and one public library&mdash;against similar-sized cities across Wisconsin.
</li>
<li>
AI Data Center Moratoriums: We also discussed what needs to be done about data centers, just a few weeks after La Crosse County passed both a study committee and an 18-month moratorium on the structures. While the county passed a resolution, it isn&rsquo;t sweeping. Other counties are currently trying to pass their own bans or considering allowing them to be built. Newberry is urging residents to <a href="https://secure.ngpvan.com/HaLxCrdltEibJtx3_z72Pw2">support a petition</a> for legislators to pass a statewide moratorium and utility rate cap.
</li>
</ul>

La Crosse faces $8M budget gap: City council rep. Newberry on shortfall, pools and libraries

La Crosse County Administrator Jane Klekamp in studio helping decide how much money it would take to get a radio show host to move here and become part of the tax base.

Klekamp said it's something the county has looked into in the past — and is currently underway in Fond du Lac — as we discussed Wisconsin’s declining population and ways to get people to move here.

We also dove into the possibility of universal childcare as the county waits on the state to approve its intergenerational daycare plan, and the recent passing of an 18-month data center moratorium — along with the new data center study committee.

One other topic, we broke down is the critical work the county and city are doing on the homeless situation, highlighting the Homes for 100 plan that launched last month as part of La Crosse's Pathways Home plan.

La Crosse County Administrator Jane Klekamp&nbsp;in studio helping decide&nbsp;how much money it would take to get a radio show host to move here and become part of the tax base.
Klekamp said it's something the county&nbsp;has looked into in the past &mdash; and is currently underway in Fond du Lac &mdash; as we&nbsp;discussed Wisconsin&rsquo;s declining population and ways to get people to move here.
We also dove into the possibility of universal childcare as the county waits on the state to approve its intergenerational daycare plan, and the recent passing of an 18-month data center moratorium &mdash; along with the new data center study committee.
One other topic, we broke down is the critical work the county and city are doing on the homeless situation, highlighting the Homes for 100 plan that launched last month as part of&nbsp;La Crosse's Pathways Home plan.

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