It's a bit of a light committee week preview, but there was plenty of city business in La Crosse to discuss with Mac Kiel in studio. 

Kiel helped break down what was finally a public meeting on — basically — creating a city administrator position, plus major staff cuts hitting the public library and why council members might have to trim their own expense accounts. 

We also dove into the city's latest progress on homelessness and what looked to be a scramble to land a Chipotle on the south side. 

Episode Highlights:
City Manager Showdown: A special council session on professional city management leaned heavily toward hiring a city administrator, raising big questions about overall costs and the future role of the mayor.
Library Board Fallout: With all city departments ordered to slash 6% from their budgets, Kiel details the Library Board's painful vote to eliminate five full-time positions to erase about $430,000 from the 2027 budget.
Council Expense Cut: The biggest item for committee week is from F&P, where a self-imposed trim could not just drop council expense allowances but change the entire format.
Homelessness Targeted Strategy: A Pathways Home city-county update revealed homelessness is down by a third, but the immediate and long-term dilemmas are still clashing
Chipotle Express Postponed: A series of special meetings was called to fast-track a south-side Chipotle near Wendy's to hit strict filing deadlines, only for the session to get postponed anyway.

It's a bit of a light committee week preview, but there was plenty of city business in La Crosse to discuss with Mac Kiel in studio.&nbsp;
Kiel helped break down what was finally a public meeting on &mdash; basically &mdash; creating a city administrator position, plus major staff cuts hitting the public library and why council members might have to trim their own expense accounts.&nbsp;
We also dove into the city's latest progress on homelessness and what looked to be a scramble to land a Chipotle on the south side.&nbsp;
Episode Highlights:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">City Manager Showdown: A special council session on professional city management leaned heavily toward hiring a city administrator, raising big questions about overall costs and the future role of the mayor.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Library Board Fallout: With all city departments ordered to slash 6% from their budgets, Kiel details the Library Board's painful vote to eliminate five full-time positions to erase about $430,000 from the 2027 budget.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Council Expense Cut: The biggest item for committee week is from F&amp;P, where a self-imposed trim could not just drop council expense allowances but change the entire format.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Homelessness Targeted Strategy: A Pathways Home city-county update revealed homelessness is down by a third, but the immediate and long-term dilemmas are still clashing</li>
<li aria-level="1">Chipotle Express Postponed: A series of special meetings was called to fast-track a south-side Chipotle near Wendy's to hit strict filing deadlines, only for the session to get postponed anyway.</li>
</ul>

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