Town Board — Minutes

Town Board Meeting Minutes September 9, 2025 Chairperson Przywojski called Town Board Meeting to order on September 9, 2025 at 6:00 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 (via zoom). Mary Rinehart was also present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Motin to approve agenda by Fogel/Monroe. DeBoer requested separate discussion on consent agenda item E, shoreline structures fee. Motion passed unanimously. Public Comment (3-minute time limit): Henry Walkowicz, North Shore Drive reported on the use of the Homestead Park and related upgrades. Sue Paudler, County Road ZB addressed the Board regarding shoreline issues and shoreline structures permitting. Mike Wellik, County Road ZB, addressed the Board regarding shoreline structures permit fees. Allison Pratt, Kramer Road, spoke in opposition to hiring of a constable citing concerns of cost including pay, training, insurance and retirement benefits, and equipment. Pratt also commented on permitting within the town. Jake Speed, Kramer Road, spoke regarding deteriorated roads in Wisconsin and Kramer Road damage. Speed complimented the repair that was completed at the bottom of the hill on Kramer, but the hill area needs to be fixed. Speed spoke in opposition to a constable citing liability concerns for the town if constable/police were to be hired. Correspondence: No board member correspondence was presented. Rinehart read an invitation from LORC meeting Monday September 22, 2025 relating to the Mississippi River rehabilitation enhancement projects. Hilltopper Refuse and Recycling will be hosting an E-Recycle event October 4, 2025 on Industrial Blvd. from 9:00 am to noon. A thank you card from Mississippi Valley Pride Softball was read regarding use of ballfields. Resident thank you regarding the Waldon Acres Cul de sac and the North Court sign post was read. Rinehart reported she has worked with the refresh/redesign of the website, it has gone live. County Board Report: None Chairperson report: Przywojski reported Supervisor Monroe and Przywojski have been working on FAQ’s to be added to the website. Per the board directive from the last board meeting Przywojski has sent the letter to the short-term rental noncompliance individual. Airbnb has been contacted as well. Investigation of feasibility of the town vs the corps issuing the shoreline structures permit has been completed. The Town will continue to issue the permits. Przywojski attended the La crosse area meeting of the WTA. The Anderson Road culvert and the Clifford Drive guard rail projects will be completed in the next couple of weeks. La Crosse County has requested to use our hall for their County Road W informational public meeting on September 23, 2025. Contact La Crosse County highway for additional information. Studies are being completed by the Town of Holland and the Village of Holmen regarding fire protection in the northern La Crosse County. Discussion includes the Town of Holland, Village of Holmen, City of Onalaska, and the Town of Onalaska. The chassis for the new truck has been received and sent to Universal for customization. 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 August 12 and August 25, 2025 meetings, B. Approve bills and finance book, C. Approve recommended signage for boat landing donation boxes, D. Approve shoreline concession fee to $500 yearly: Motion by Monroe/DeBoer to approve items A-D of the consent agenda. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Agenda Items Discussion to approve shoreline structures fee to $214 per year for 3-year permit: Discussion regarding committee recommendation and the process they used was discussed. The Lease verbiage was discussed as it relates to the shoreline permits. The past 3 years income/expense was discussed. The cost comparison with the neighboring municipalities were discussed. Motion to open the floor by DeBoer/Fogel passed unanimously. Sue Paudler, County Road ZB, and Mike Wellik, County Road ZB, questioned the fee structure and the what necessitated the cost increase proposed. Motion to close the floor by Monroe/DeBoer passed unanimously. Holding a public meeting/hearing to provide information to facilitate further understanding was discussed. Motion by DeBoer/Monroe to postpone vote and ask shoreline committee to give detailed description of how they came to the numbers including a clear chart. Motion failed 1 (DeBoer)/4 (Monroe, Przywojski, Fogel, Marcou). Motion by Fogel/Marcou to approve the recommended $214 per year for 3-year structure permit. Motion passed 4/1 (DeBoer). Items Relating to Public Works Department Shop Report: Crew member Casey reported chipping continues schedule. The boat landing sign project is complete. Fall ditch mowing is underway, the park maintenance need at Homestead it complete. Winter preparation of the plow trucks is underway. The fire extinguishers have been installed at Swarthout and Marvin Gardens shelters as will as the superfund cold storage site. Discussion to approve proposal relating to stormwater drainage issue within Sobkowiak Park: No action. Items Relating to General Government Discussion relating to property valuation and appraisal of N5589 Commerce Road as related La Crosse County highway department project at County OT and Commerce Road intersection: The opinion of a town solicited appraisal was reviewed as requested at the August meeting. The original valuation was found to be reasonable and no additional decrease in value to the property will result. Motion by Monroe/DeBoer to accept the offer for the purchase on 1205 square feet. Motion passed unanimously. Discussion regarding 2026 curbside chipping schedule: Motion by DeBoer/Monroe to decrease to 8 cycles of chipping services for future years and to begin in April. Motion passed unanimously. Discussion relating to request for Town of Onalaska to consider applying to rezone parcels owned by Federal Government contiguous to the US Fish and Wildlife Service: Monroe clarified she also proposed the parcel south of the Dynamic County Z building, tax parcel 10-02041-000 to be included in the discussion and that she brought this to the Board in response to Federal Land sales in western states, and a rezoning the property may assist in keeping the land protected from development if the Federal Government decided to sell it. Motion by Monroe/DeBoer to have the Town apply to La Crosse County to rezone those parcels. Motion failed 2-3 vote. (DeBoer and Monroe Yes, Przywojski, Fogel, Marcou No). Discussion regarding investigation relating to hiring a Town Constable: Chair Przywojski asked DeBoer to lead discussion since DeBoer requested this be on the agenda. Fogel shared historical reasons why a constable was eliminated. DeBoer advised having heard input from residents who were against a constable she would like continued discussion on ordinance enforcement. No action. Motion by adjourn by Marcou/Fogel passed unanimously at 8:33 p.m. Respectfully submitted Mary Rinehart Administrator/Clerk/Treasurer