Kabat considers replacement appointment for Center Board, after veto controversy

As the dust clears after a big veto battle, La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat seems pretty hopeful moving forward with a La Crosse Center expansion.

After an unrelated meeting in City Hall Monday, Kabat told WIZM he likes how the city council already has moved beyond the fight over his veto of the $49 million plan, he thought was too spendy,

“I feel like the council, with the debate and the discussion from last Thursday, has established some pretty good parameters for what we want to see with this project,” Kabat said, “which involves not encroaching into the park and really staying toward that $42 million budget.”

Kabat has to appoint a new city council member to the board that oversees the Center as Jessica Olson resigned publically Thursday. She’s since sent an email to the mayor, however, saying she would still serve if he wanted her to.

“With all the appointments that I make, I try to gather input from folks about who would be a good committee member and balance all that,” Kabat said. “I’ve already heard, however, she’s possibly thinking about rescinding her resignation.

“I have to give that consideration and think about what’s in the best interest of our whole community.”

Thursday, the city council voted 7-6 to override Kabat’s veto of the expansion plan. The council, however, needed nine votes to actually do so.