One homeless meeting down, another to go in La Crosse, as Mac Kiel stopped in the WIZM studio for the Rick Solem Show to help break them down, as well as preview committee week.

The homeless conversation centered on a recent two-hour special meeting with a state official, in what Kiel called a “lively discussion and debate” between department heads and council members over short-term enforcement versus long-term solutions. Our chat also looked ahead to the Pathways Home update on Sept 8, where the city and county will review progress on the five-year strategy.

Plus, we unpacked the fallout after the city administrator vote fell just short of a supermajority, examine a closed-session library board meeting addressing a projected $400,000 deficit next year,, dive into new life for the old north side library community plan, and look ahead to committee week (J&A and F&P meeting agendas) — including a proposed charter ordinance on department head hiring, a municipal fine hike, and buying the Girl Scout building back for $1.

Episode Highlights:

• Kmart Project Gridlock: Details how changing developer figures and delayed city approvals are stalling the long-awaited site revival.
• Homelessness Boiling Point: Recounts a packed two-hour session as city departments and council members clash over short-term enforcement versus long-term plans.
• Library Budget Squeeze: Unpacks a closed-session board meeting addressing potential staffing cuts amid wider city deficit fears.
• Department Head Oversight: Explores a proposed charter ordinance that would give the city a one-year window to dismiss new hires at will.
• North Side Plan Approved: Highlights ECDC’s green light for a community group’s $843,000 vision to repurpose the former library.
• Citation Fee Hike: Examines a proposal raising municipal court fines for the first time since 2014 to offset tight city budgets.

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.