Onalaska council moves to closed session after briefing on pig-related litigation

The Onalaska Common Council on Aug. 12 voted to go into closed session to discuss litigation in La Crosse County case No. 2025 CV 389 (City of Onalaska v. Shonda Crouch, Deja Fitzpatrick, Blake and Macy Sparks).

City attorney Amanda Jackson briefed the council: the city became aware on July 1 of a feeder pig at a duplex in the Mayfair Addition that neighbors said was trespassing and producing a foul odor. After repeated requests the city sought a temporary injunction and animal control seized the animal in July. At an Aug. 5 hearing Judge Doyle ordered that pigs are prohibited in Onalaska and declared the animal a public nuisance; the judge directed removal and rehoming of the pig to a licensed agricultural premise following mandated quarantine and state testing.

Amanda said a few outstanding action items remained and recommended a brief closed-session discussion under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel about litigation strategy. Mike Milkey moved to go into closed session; Kathy Lowendorf seconded. The roll call vote was all ayes and the council convened in closed session at 7:47 p.m.

What was said in open session: Amanda summarized the inspection findings (continued trespass onto neighboring property, a mud pit overlapping a neighbor’s parcel and an accumulation of feces) and the court’s orders concerning quarantine and movement restrictions for pigs under state regulation. She noted that pigs’ movement is regulated by the state and that rehoming requires compliance with DATCP testing and quarantine rules.

Next step: The council entered closed session to discuss remaining litigation strategy; no further open-session action was taken on this item.