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JUNE 2025 LEAGUE LENS

Virginia Crank, Editor | Published on 6/23/2025

La Crosse School Board Meeting Recording and Minutes

The school board met on June 6 and 12. The Board showcased several programs in the district including the Grow La Crosse program which encourages healthy eating by teaching students how to garden and has been operating since 2012 at 7 out of 10 elementary schools, and the LaX Education Foundation which has received $800,000 in donations. The Board also gave updates on construction at the Hogan and State Road buildings, curriculum, and budget.

Observers: Rosemary Bodnar and Jeam Hammons

City of La Crosse Common Council Information

The June meeting of the Council featured three main topics of discussion. The first issue was a vote on increasing storm utility fees by 50%, effective July 1. The increase was approved, 8-5. The second point of business involved approving zoning changes for Haven on Main (affordable housing for adults with disabilities and families with children) and for new construction at Hogan Elementary School. Finally, the City Plan Commission took public input on the City's Capital Improvement Budget.

Observer: Nora Garland

Campbell Town Board Agendas and Minutes

The June meeting of the Town of Campbell Supervisors focused on discussion of the incorporation process. A consultant is helping with the process of applying to the state of Wisconsin to become a village, which has strong constituent support. Their goals include gaining more access to state funding and exploring options for better water quality. The change is supported by Campbell's updated ordinances and the development of Campbell’s own zoning and planning goals (not the County’s). This discussion of the incorporation process led to further discussion of water quality issues as the town continues to research the feasibility of a deeper aquifer solution to access clean water.

Observer: Stephanie Davis

Judiciary and Law

The June meeting of the Judiciary and Law Committee featured reports from the District Attorney, the La Crosse Sheriff, and the Civilian Review Board. The District Attorney reported that felony cases in La Crosse seem to be declining in 2025, compared to 2024, but that juvenile cases involving guns seem to be going up. The Sheriff reported that a consultant has been hired to help with the PodK proposal for the county jail, which would house non-violent inmates with severe mental health issues. This new project would require new funding. The Sheriff also noted that the state of Wisconsin is planning to create a new mental health facility in the Eau Claire/Chippewa Falls area. Finally, the Civilian Review Board noted that the grievance reporting procedure is online and that they have invited the La Crosse and Onalaska police chiefs to meet with them.

Observer: Chris Haskell

Criminal Justice Management Council

While CJMC did not have a quorum, the June meeting did include discussion of identifying gaps in mental illness support for those moving through the judicial system in order to ultimately identify people pre-arrest and provide services to them. The council discussed using the SIMS model (Sequential Intercept Model) to collect data on high-frequency open cases and then, starting in July, inviting stakeholders such as local medical facilities, high schools, and law enforcement to meetings where both the data and solutions could be discussed.

Observers: Sally King and Peter Nelson

Human Services

The June meeting of the County Health and Human Services Committee focused extensively on Medicaid and Food Share (SNAP) in La Crosse County. Eligibility for these programs was clarified: Children, parents, seniors, people with disabilities, and working adults whose jobs don’t offer affordable health coverage may be eligible for Medicaid, depending on their income, household size, and specific needs. Food Share eligibility is also determined by income, household size, and allowable expenses. The committee noted that 19,357 La Crosse County residents received Medicaid in 2024, for a total of $589 million in benefits, and 10,230 received Food Share in 2024, for a total of $18.9 million in benefits for La Crosse County.

The committee then discussed proposed changes to Medicaid, including Medicaid work requirements, the reduction in federal matching funds for administrative costs, and Food Share error penalties. Concerns about these changes were extensive and focused on uncertainties about specific work requirements, residents’ inability to work 20 hours per week, and increased administrative costs (potentially $2 million) and penalties for small errors in Food Share distribution (potentially $1-5 million).

Observer: Mary Faherty

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