Town Board — Minutes

Town Board October 14, 2025 1. Chairperson Przywojski called Town Board Meeting to order on October 14, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. at the Town of Onalaska, Town Hall, N5589 Commerce Road. Present: Chairperson Paula Przysojski, Supervisors Frank Fogel, Emy Monroe, Betty DeBoer, and Luke Marcou. Mary Rinehart was also present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 2. Motion to approve agenda by Fogel/Monroe passed unanimously. 3. Public Comment (3-minute time limit): • Tim Reagles, Sun Valley Drive, requested Ordinance Committee review of proposed ordinance in item 7. • Jake Speed, Kramer Road, requested Kramer Road issues be addressed for causation of road issues. • Josh Newmann, McCurdy Place recommended his Conditional Use be approved or he will annex to the Village of Holmen. • Sue Paudler, County Road ZB, spoke in opposition of ATV/UTV use on roadways and ask that ordinance not be approved. • Mary Muenzenberger County Road M, spoke in support of ATV/UTV use on roadways and ask that ordinance be approved and submitted a petition of signatures supporting UTV road use. • Dave Drazkowski, Apple Valley Road, spoke in opposition of ATV/UTV use on roadways, requested the ATV/UTV issue be delayed to a future meeting. • Sandy Thompson, County Road Z, spoke in support of ATV/UTV use on roadways, and stated she made a FOIA request and has read the proposed ordinance and supports the proposed ordinance with the 18-month trial period. • Katy Kozlak, Eagle Circle Lane West, spoke in support of ATV/UTV use on roadways and ask that ordinance be approved citing multiple reasons for approval. • Sue Schultz, County Road ZB, spoke in opposition to ATV/UTV use on roadways citing there are no trails within the town and noted housing density. • Al Steck, County Road M, spoke in support of ATV/UTV use on roadways and ask that ordinance be approved citing proximity to neighboring municipalities with road use approval. • Ray Heidel, County Road ZB, spoke in support of ATV/UTV use on roadways and ask that ordinance be approved to allow ability to use the equipment under reasonable restrictions. • Lisa Drazkowski, Apple Valley Road, spoke in opposition to UTV use on roadways citing hill concerns in Apple Valley. • David Ford, County Road ZB, spoke in opposition to use on county roads but can see the value on farms and country residents. Ford advised he lives near an intersection where traffic does not come to a complete stop (County Z – ZB intersection). • Paul Gasper, County Road Z, spoke in support of ATV/UTV use on roadways and ask that ordinance be approved. He questioned how many people in opposition have driven one or are they just afraid? • Marc Schultz, County Road ZB, spoke in opposition to road use of UTV’s citing he uses RTV for logging operations. • Greg Eberhart, Prairie Lane, spoke in support of ATV/UTV use on roadways and ask that ordinance be approved urging everyone to get the Wisconsin booklet on all terrane laws. • Paul Wilhelmson, County Road ZB, Thanked the board and chair for bringing the UTV issue up. He advised he did a FOIA request for the ordinance proposal and received it the following morning. Wilhelmson spoke in support of ATV/UTV use on roadways and ask that ordinance be approved. • Dave DeBoer, County Road ZB, not looking forward to teens racing UTV’s on the quiet county roadways. • Paul Muezenberger, County Road M, spoke in support of ATV/UTV use on roadways, requested that ordinance be approved. Advised decibel level of lawn mower is 88-96 decibel, UTV is 75-85 decibel. • Amanda Maier, Mulder Lane, spoke in support of ATV/UTV use on roadways and ask that ordinance be approved, expressing it was time to move this issue forward. • Robin Schmidt, County Road ZB, spoke in opposition to ATV/UTV use on roadways citing OWI fines and ordinance conformity requirement. • Sheila Steck, County Road M, spoke in support of ATV/UTV use on roadways and requested approval. • Michelle Gooza, County Road ZB, spoke to support ATV/UTV use on town roadways. • Beverly Brady, County Road XX, email in opposition ATV/UTV use on roadways was read • Tim Franzini, County Road ZB, email in support of passing the agenda item relating to ATV/UTV use on public roadways was read, • Pam Ruetten, County Road ZB email in opposition to ATV use on public roadway was read, • Kevin Kenow, County Road ZB, statement in opposition to ATV/UTV use on public roadways was read, • Kevin Morgenthaler, Forest Court, email in support of moving forward with UTV use on roadways was read, 4. County Board Report: None 5. Chairperson report: Przywojski reported the Boundary agreement has been extended for 5 additional years. The La Crosse County highway county road W bridge project is scheduled for a 2028 construction; plans include a temporary bridge to be installed during the construction. Late October 2025 the LRIP funding meeting will be held; the town has applied for LRIP funding. 6. Discussion with ATV/UTV club representative regarding roles of the club as related to La Crosse County Code of Ordinance: Rhonda Peterson of Coulee Cruisers and Ray Green of Tri-County Trail Blazers UTV clubs gave presentation relating to club roles and club involvement in permitting with La Crosse County. How ATV/UTV route vs. trail laws as related to what is allowable when roadways are opened were discussed. Peterson reported there is 65,000 miles of road routes in Wisconsin, compared to 2300 miles of off-road summer trails and 4470 miles of off-road winter trail state wide in Wisconsin. 7. Discussion relating to ordinance regarding ATV/UTV use within the Town of Onalaska: Chair Przywojski advised this is the last item to be placed on the agenda for discussion at resident request at the annual meeting. She therefore, did research into both sides of the topic. The proposed ordinance has been reviewed and approved by town legal counsel and believes the proposal to be both logical and simple, as well as in line with the County ordinance. Each board member shared personal insight relating to ATV/UTV road use. Motion by Marcou/Fogel to approve the ordinance as written and to codify and implement as quickly as possible. Motion passed 3/2 (Przywojski, Fogel, Marcou yes), (DeBoer, Monroe no). 8. Correspondence: Rinehart read invitation the La Crosse County unit meeting of the WTA, a thank you card from the Mini Donut Crew for use of Swarthout park and shelter, and shared a letter received from the Commissioner of Railroads regarding the Lytle Landing crossing signage. 9. Consent Agenda: (All items listed are considered routine or have committee recommendation and will be acted upon in one motion. There will not be separate discussion of these items unless a Board Member so requests, in which case the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and be considered on the Regular Agenda): A. Approve minutes of September 9, 2025 meetings, B. Approve bills and finance book, C. Approve plan commission recommendation relating to Conditional Use permit application for Josh Neumann to build a single-family residence on parcel 10-123-0, D. Approve Storm Water Utility recommendation regarding culvert replacement at Cottonwood Plaza, E. Approve Storm Water Utility recommendation regarding the update at of Hydraulic and Sediment Study of 1995 and Stormwater Management Plan of 2008 in preparation for development of ditch management plan, and F. Approve RFP for shoreline: Motion by DeBoer/Marcou to approve consent agenda items A-F. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Agenda Items Items Relating to Public Works Department 10. Shop Report given by crew member Philip. 11. Discussion regarding tailgate deflector on dump trucks: Motion to approve by DeBoer/Monroe passed unanimously. Items Relating to General Government 12. Discussion relating to vacate and discontinue a portion of the undeveloped Westwood Lane: Motion by Monroe/Marcou to approve and complete. Motion passed unanimously. 13. Discussion and possible action relating to informational meeting date relating to shoreline structures permitting and signage: Motion by Marcou/DeBoer to hold informational meeting December 18, 2025 10:00 AM to noon, and 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and to send a colored post card to shoreline residents, place at posting locations and on website. Motion passed unanimously. 14. Discussion regarding problematic tree on Northshore Lane: Motion by Monroe/Marcou to allow the resident to remove at their expense and to cut the tree at ground level. Motion passed unanimously. 15. Discussion relating to schedule organizational meeting of the park committee: Park Committee will consist of Emy Monroe, Betty DeBoer, Justin Brandou, Scott Cooper, and Ben Bochenhauer. Motion by DeBoer/Monroe to set regular meeting day and time as the 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 PM. Next meeting to will be December 16, 2025. 16. Discussion to schedule budget meeting for October 28 (2-4) and November 4 if needed: Motion by Marcou/Fogel to schedule budget work session for October 28, 2025 2:00-4:00 pm and November 4, 2025 with time to be determined is needed. Motion passed unanimously. 17. Motion to adjourn by DeBoer/Marcou passed unanimously at 9:12 pm. Respectfully submitted, Mary Rinehart