La Crosse council approves multiple capital items: chipper purchase, sidewalk funding and utility reallocations

On Oct. 9 the La Crosse City Council approved several capital and reallocation items on the agenda, including a debated street-department wood chipper purchase, additional sidewalk infill funds and reallocations for stormwater and sanitary sewer utilities.

A resolution authorizing capital equipment purchases for the street department as part of the approved 2026 Capital Improvement Plan was adopted (agenda item number cited). Council debate over the wood chipper centered on whether the purchase duplicated existing Park & Rec equipment, the lifecycle and maintenance (tooth replacement) costs, and whether the item should have waited for the CIP process. Council member Janssen said the conversation should occur during CIP budgeting: “If a wood chipper was really needed, we should have been having that conversation during the CIP budget.” Other members defended the purchase on safety and operational grounds; one motion to adopt passed in the meeting after discussion.

Council also approved a resolution to appropriate additional funds for sidewalk restoration as part of the city sidewalk infill program (CIP #762). Director Gallagher explained additional earthwork was required to accommodate neighbor preferences for yard treatment, which increased costs; the resolution passed unanimously.

Two utility items reallocating unspent capital funds to storm water and sanitary sewer equipment needs were adopted unanimously with no substantive discussion.

Next steps: implementation will follow normal procurement and project management paths; staff will return with any design-level approvals required by Board of Public Works.