La Crosse City Council hears pushback on U-Haul plans for old Kmart building
Kabat voices disappointment, calls proposed use a shame
January 14, 2021 7:59 PM Mike Tighe
Updated:
Current zoning allows U-Haul to use the interior of the former Kmart building for retail sales, but rezoning would be necessary for fleet rentals and self-storage.
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) Chagrin over the proposed use of the former Kmart building on the South Side as a U-Haul facility surfaced at the La Crosse City Council meeting Thursday night, with Mayor Tim Kabat describing the plan as “a shame.”
Council member Doug Happel raised the issue, saying constituents have peppered him with questions about the proposal since the U-Haul Company of Southwestern Wisconsin and Rockford announced its plans for the building last week.
Markussen announce the filing late Tuesday morning.
The former head of the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce launch her bid last week.
Markussen joins La Crosse common council president Martin Gaul, council members Jessica Olson, businessman Chris Stolpa, former radio host Mitch Reynolds and 18-year-old Sam Schneider.
Current Mayor Tim Kabat announced at the start of the month that he would not seek a third term.
wkbt
Mitch Reynolds
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) - Martin Gaul and Mitch Reynolds both decided to run for the position when Mayor Tim Kabat announced he would not look to win another term.
Gaul is the sitting common council president and said his six years of experience on city council have prepared him for the tough gig.
One of his goals is to build better relationships with other municipality leaders in La Crosse County. Our local elected officials have got to develop a relationship based on trust of each other, Gaul said. If we can do that at the top level for local elected leaders I believe that we can start to work on processes that will create efficiencies for every body involved. We need to be willing to share resources and to share jurisdictions to make that work.
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) Mayor Tim Kabat announced Tuesday that Andrea Trane will be the next director of the city’s Planning, Development and Assessment Department.
Trane joined the city’s staff in 2015 as an economic development planner and has been serving as the interim director since Jason Gilman stepped down earlier this year amongst budget cuts. The selection will go to the La Crosse Common Council for confirmation at the Jan. 14, 2021, meeting.
Kabat said Trane was chosen following a national search.
“I have been so impressed with Andrea’s leadership and abilities during her service to the City of La Crosse. She and the Planning and Community Development team have been remarkably agile and creative in providing services and assistance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kabat said.
Memorial service honors lives of homeless, formerly homeless people who died in our community this year
December 21, 2020 10:43 PM Molly Ringberg
Updated:
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) – On Monday evening a memorial service honored the lives of homeless and formerly homeless people who died in our community this past year.
For the annual La Crosse’s Homeless Person’s Memorial Day, community members gathered in-person and virtually at the Rotary Lights, where a memorial tree stands.
During the ceremony, the names of those who have died were read and Mayor Tim Kabat officially recognized the day by a proclamation.
People also took part in a short walk to the Mississippi, setting flowers in the river for each person being remembered.