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Viroqua council approves contracts, pay request and ordinance changes in routine actions
Summary
At its Feb. 24 meeting the council approved a certified survey map, a garage door replacement contract using non-lapsing funds, Hansen Farm pay request No. 3 for $256,958.94, operator and temporary liquor licenses, and amendments to the noxious weed ordinance; staff will return a draft parking-fine ordinance at a future meeting.
The Viroqua City Council handled several routine but consequential items at its Feb. 24 meeting, approving property, procurement and budget items and passing an amendment intended to make noxious-weed citations more enforceable in circuit court.
Land use: the council approved an extraterritorial certified survey map (CSM) that divides a lot along Highway 56 to allow a family member to build a home on the newly created lot. The plan commission had recommended approval.
Public works contracts: staff proposed using about $25,000 in non-lapsing capital funds to replace several garage doors at the city's public works shop. Staff recommended selecting local Swenson Doors for overhead doors and Lacrosse Glass for the service door; the council approved the recommendation. (The meeting transcript’s exact final line-item figure for the contract read aloud was unclear; staff stated the work would be covered by non-lapsing funds.)
Hansen Farm project: council approved pay request No. 3 for the Hansen Farm development in the amount of $256,958.94 to cover grading, excavation and storm-sewer work; staff reported the project is roughly halfway complete and expected to resume active field work as weather permits.
Licenses and events: the council approved operator (alcohol) licenses for several applicants and granted temporary beer licenses for the Viroqua Fire Department Association fundraiser (March 14, 2026) and the Viroqua Area Hockey Association Founders Cup (March 23–27, 2026) with designated sale and consumption areas.
Ordinance change: the council approved amendments to the noxious weed ordinance on a first-reading waiver to make enforcement language more general ("grass and/or other herbaceous non-woody vegetation") so citations resist species-specific challenges in circuit court. Staff said the change was developed with the municipal prosecutor to address recurring challenges to citations.
Other business: staff said a draft update to parking ordinance fines was not ready and will be returned to a future meeting. The council approved payment of the bills and, after two separate closed sessions, approved a pre-development agreement with Market Point (hotel) and a negotiated fire contract with surrounding towns. The meeting then adjourned.
What’s next: staff will return with a parking-fine ordinance draft, Market Point will provide an updated feasibility study and refined plans for the proposed hotel, and public-works staff will finalize contract documents for the garage-door project.
