La Crosse’s mayor thanks council members for their work, tells them to be ready for public reaction

A new session of the La Crosse city council has started, with many of the same old issues facing elected leaders as last year, and the year before.

During the council reorganization meeting on Tuesday, Mayor Mitch Reynolds said flooding and homelessness are among the problems the council should be ready to deal with, whether they have enough resources or not.

“All of this in an environment of stagnant state funding, where legislators in Madison feel more inclined to stockpile billions in surplus revenue, rather than adequately and rightfully provide funding for local government services,” said the mayor.

Reynolds praises the city staff as “extraordinary,” and true public servants.

Addressing two new members sworn in this week, Tamara Dickinson and Erin Goggin, Reynolds warned them to expect opinions from city residents, almost anywhere.

“Those who are called to task on the street, at grocery stores, mowing the lawn in their front yards,” he said. “You will have to answer for the choices we all make as a group, as well as the policy decisions from councils past.”

But the mayor also told council members that they will find fulfillment in their work from seeing improvements in the city. He urged council members and staff to “be collegial, and kind to each other. Let us treat each other with respect and consideration.”