La Crosse Board of Public Works Meeting Summary – October 12, 2026

The Board of Public Works met on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Council Chambers at City Hall, 400 La Crosse Street, La Crosse, WI. All five members were present: Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey, Tamra Dickinson, Erin Goggin, Matthew Gallager, and Andrea Trane. The board unanimously approved several payment, maintenance, and permit items, and received quarterly presentations from the Sanitary Sewer Utility and Stormwater Utility. The meeting adjourned at 10:50 AM.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from October 5, 2026 were approved unanimously.
• Agenda item 25-1192, Construction Contract Final Payments: none were presented.
• Agenda item 25-1201, Construction Contract Change Orders: none were presented.

Discussion Items

• Losey Blvd. right-of-way acquisitions (26-1070): Staff reported this was the second-to-last payment for the project. The payment list was approved unanimously.
• 7th and Cass St. maintenance quote (26-1073): Staff explained the work stems from CIP 26-1048, is below the public bid threshold, and includes curb, gutter, and brick repair/replacement, clearing and grubbing of the roundabout median island, grass restoration, and a service contract for maintenance for up to two years or until funds run out. It was the only quote received. Councilmember Gallager asked about the funding source, and staff confirmed the funds came from TID 11. The item was approved unanimously.
• Temporary Street Privilege Permit for Hawk & Sons Inc. (26-1074): Brandon Goranson of Hawk & Sons requested a one-day closure of Main Street from 2nd Street to 3rd Street to crane cell equipment off the US Bank Building, likely the following Tuesday. He said a traffic control plan had been submitted, warning lights and cones would be used, the sidewalk on the business-owner side would remain open, and the sidewalk over the US Bank building would be closed. Director Gallager clarified that the applicant is responsible for notifying affected properties and the public. Approved unanimously.
• Revocable Occupancy Permit for Utilities Department water meter station (26-1075): Staff stated the prefabricated water meter station at 1000 Boathouse Drive was approved in the CIP, and the site is in the right-of-way across from Nekomas Drive next to Veterans Park. Approved unanimously.
• Revocable Occupancy Permit for Trane Technologies (26-1076): Luke Cione said excavation work hit a Trane-owned fiber optic line, and the permit would allow installation of conduit and a splice case in the boulevard north of Ward Avenue at 2220 Ward Avenue. Approved unanimously.

Presentations: Sanitary Sewer Utility Quarterly Update

• Staff presented on the newly issued Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit, effective October 1, 2026. The permit covers effluent limitations, monitoring and reporting, source control, biosolids management, and compliance schedules. PFAS/PFOA was mentioned 105 times in the permit.
• Compliance highlights included a 2026 average total phosphorus concentration of 0.07 mg/L against a monthly limit of 0.1 mg/L; an H2S average of 2.5 mg/L against a limit of 150 mg/L; and PFAS sampling of biosolids on August 28, 2026, below the 20 parts per billion limit. The air permit has been in place for five years with continued compliance.
• The biosolids management plan was updated for Class A biosolids approval. The presenter cited the plan as 273 pages in one portion of the presentation and 237 pages later; the discrepancy was not addressed.
• Staff described a green steel (iron slag) trial to reduce chemical use. The city began feeding green steel on August 4, 2026, and reported using one-third less ferric chloride over about 60 days. A grain-bin feeder was retrofitted in-house for $2,150 total, and the city is the second in the United States to trial this approach. The biosolids dryer is scheduled to restart in the second week of November.
• Staff noted ongoing priorities: tracking operating costs, maintaining compliance, preparing for stricter future limits, and monitoring emerging contaminants such as PFAS/PFOA and pharmaceuticals.

Presentations: Stormwater Utility Quarterly Update

• Staff reported that an illicit connection to the storm sewer at Charles and St. James Street was found after an anonymous complaint came through the DNR. A railroad had piped a connection without a permit and without meeting city engineering standards. The connection was closed off, and the railroad will need to go through the Engineering Department to reconnect properly.
• Leaf collection begins in two weeks. Residents were encouraged to place leaves on the boulevard, not in the street, because leaves can clog storm drains and contribute nitrogen and phosphorus to waterways. Home composting was also encouraged.
• For winter road maintenance, the city works to limit salt use through brine application, sand for traction, and avoiding salt at very low temperatures where it is ineffective.
• The week of September 19, 2026, was Wisconsin Stormwater Week and the first Wisconsin PFOS Awareness Week. The city shared educational materials and noted PFOS treatment is not yet required in stormwater but may be coming.
• The 2026 Soak It Up Award was given to Features Field House in West Salem. A sign and media event are scheduled for Thursday, with the property featuring multiple rain gardens and native plantings.

Key Outcomes

• All votes on agenda items were unanimous, with each motion passing 5-0.
• Approved: Losey Blvd. right-of-way payment list, 7th and Cass St. maintenance quote, Hawk & Sons temporary street privilege permit, Utilities Department water meter station revocable occupancy permit, and Trane Technologies revocable occupancy permit.
• The sanitary sewer and stormwater utility updates were received as presentations only; no formal action was taken.
• The meeting adjourned at 10:50 AM.