Bubbler talk with La Crosse city council members Chris Kahlow and Gary Padesky. 

The two have an item on Tuesday's Judiciary and Administration Committee meeting agenda aimed at preserving the city's historic bubblers. 

It's one of two pieces of legislation on bubblers for the committee to debate. The other was put for the La Crosse Mayor Shuandel Washington-Spivey.

According to the city, there are 53 drinking fountains — 32 of them cast iron, though Kahlow disputed that during the show.

The resolution by Kahlow and Padesky would delay removal of inoperable water drinking fountains. 

Washington-Spivey's resolution lists 18 sites throughout the city to install ADA compliant bubblers. 

Some complaints to the city have been because some bubblers aren't on. And there are claims that the bubblers can't be on because they're not ADA compliant, through Padesky addresses that.

Neither resolution appears to order the city to turn on the bubblers.

Approached with a list of questions about the city's bubbler situation, a statement from engineering was given that reads: 

There has likely been some miscommunication about the water fountains in the City of La Crosse. There is no plan to remove them. 

Specific direction has been given to the Water Utility to leave the “bubblers” in place, but no longer operational. 

This is due to the fact that they are not ADA compliant, something that has been identified as part of the ADA Transition Plan of the City of La Crosse by its independent consultant. 

Staff is considering additional options, such as designating them works of art or memorials, but they are not being removed. Based upon research by the Legal Department, and with our ADA consultant, over the past year, the decision was reached to leave them in place. 

They will just remain off indefinitely, as that is the only way to have ADA compliance. Please note that per our records, the bubblers are now, and have always been, the property of the Water Utility. The City of La Crosse was billed for the costs of the water previously.