LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – The City Administrator Working Group is meeting with La Crosse community members to discuss the groups plan to add a city administrator.<\/p>\n
The meeting is the first of several scheduled where community members can share their thoughts about the possible addition of the position.<\/p>\n
Councilwoman Chris Kahlow says she appreciates the opportunity to communicate with those who live in La Crosse.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of this is getting the word out to the public, letting them know to get on the website and take the survey, get informed because this is a big decision. It can impact the city greatly,\u201d says Kahlow.<\/p>\n
Kahlow says one of the reasons the city administrator working group wants a city administrator is because the mayor has a lot to focus on with state and federal issues being a priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s really hard to expect a person who\u2019s elected to know all of that, and to be able to have the skills and knowledge for that without the training and education,\u201d says Kahlow.<\/p>\n
La Crosse resident Gregg Peppin says the administrator\u2019s planned salary of around $190,000 that will come out of the city\u2019s regular operating budget is too expensive.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re looking at additional staff. You\u2019re looking at additional office costs. You\u2019re looking at potentially a surge committee. Those costs add up, and what does that mean on a going forward basis? I think that there\u2019s still a lot of unanswered questions there,\u201d says Peppin.<\/p>\n
While he isn\u2019t leaning towards the decision, Peppin encourages people to come out to future sessions to hear what people with other opinions have to say.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt opened my eyes to maybe some of the benefits to the position. I\u2019m think I\u2019m leaning against it for a number of reasons. But it was a good discussion, and I think that all points of view were represented today,\u201d says Peppin.<\/p>\n
The city council will vote on the addition of a city administrator in February.<\/p>\n