Strong Turnout, Smooth Election

A big thank you to everyone who helped make Election Day a success, including County Clerk Ginny Dankmeyer and Deputy County Clerk Mia Bautista, who are pictured here, along with our municipal clerks and poll workers.

La Crosse County saw a strong voter turnout of 77.2% and another well-run election with every vote counted. Thank you to everyone who cast a ballot and made your voice heard. You can view the La Crosse County election results on the County Clerk's webpage here.

La Crosse County has saved $5.9 million since 2008 by becoming more efficient in our use of electricity, natural gas,vehicle fuel and paper. This means we are reducing both our costs and our carbon footprint.

The County's annual Sustainability Indicators presentation to the County Board last month detailed our progress. Our carbon dioxide emissions from vehicle fuel, electricity and natural gas fell by 4.9% in 2025 compared to 2024. Since 2014, those emissions are down 47%. The decline is due to a combination of reduced usage by the County and Xcel Energy producing significantly less electricity with coal.

Cumulative savings from Efficiency and Conservation

• Vehicle Fuels, 2015-2025: $0.5M
• Electricity, 2008-2025 : $2.6M
• Natural Gas, 2008-2025 : $1.3M
• Paper, 2010-2025 : $1.5M
• Total: $5.9M

The eight solar arrays installed at different County properties since 2024 are helping. In 2025, the arrays covered about 11% of the County's total electricity use. The figure will increase, as not all of the arrays were online throughout 2025. Read more in the Sustainability Indicators presentation here.

Sign up for our November Blood Drive

Please sign up for our November Blood Drive, which takes place Friday, Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Health and Human Services Building (300 4th St. N, La Crosse). Sign up for an appointment here. The drive is public and walk-ins are also welcome.

Spooktacular Costumes

County staff got into the Halloween spirit last week, and special mention goes to the Environmental Health team at the Health Department.

Environmental Health Supervisor Dave Sawvell spent his last day in the office before retirement dressed as a bed while his colleagues came as bed bugs. It was a fitting send-off for Sawvell as he departs for a well-earned retirement.

More Than 200 Attend Veterans Expo

More than 200 veterans and community members attended the annual Veterans Expo hosted by the La Crosse County Veterans Services Office at the Stoney Creek Hotel last month. The event featured more than 52 vendor tables offering federal, state and local resources to veterans and their families.

Our Veterans Services Office also holds regular community office hours at the La Crosse Public Library, Holmen Community Center, Onalaska Legion, Vet Center and Holmen Legion, making it easier for veterans to access benefits information and services close to home.

For community office hour dates and times, visit lacrossecounty.org/veterans or call the Veterans Services Office at (608) 785-9719.

Budget Vote Next Week

A public hearing on La Crosse County's proposed $209 million budget for 2027 will be held on Monday, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m., at the La Crosse County Administrative Center (212 6th St., N., La Crosse). Following the hearing, the budget will go to the board for a vote.

Stein is County's New I.T. Director

Kent Stein (pictured) has been appointed as La Crosse County's I.T. Director, effective Nov. 16.

Stein, who is currently Director of La Crosse County Public Safety Communications, will take over from John Parshall, who is retiring. Parshall has been with the County for 22 years, leading many complex projects, including software overhauls, launching a new website, the transition to remote work during the pandemic, and much more.

Before joining La Crosse County, Stein worked at Emplify Health as an IT Architect and previously served as Operations Manager at Tri-State Ambulance. Before that, he worked for several years as an EMT/Paramedic.

Flu, COVID and RSV Vaccines

Fall is a good time to think about protecting yourself and your loved ones from the germs that are common at this time of year, like Influenza.  

Flu Vaccine: People over six months of age are recommended to receive the flu vaccine every year. Flu vaccine is available at your health care provider or local pharmacy. The Health Department has flu vaccine available to children who are uninsured, or are covered by Medicaid. Please call 608-785-9872 to request an appointment for a flu vaccine.   

RSV Vaccine: RSV is a respiratory infection. Infants and adults who are older or have certain risk factors are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization. RSV vaccine is recommended for many individuals at risk for complications of RSV. High risk groups can include infants, pregnant people, adults over 50 with health concerns, and adults over the age of 70. Contact your provider for more information. 

COVID Vaccine: A 26/27 COVID vaccine is recommended for anyone over six months of age who is interested in protecting themselves from COVID. If you are interested in receiving a COVID vaccine, contact your provider, local pharmacy or the Health Department. The Health Department has COVID vaccine available for children who are uninsured, or are covered by Medicaid, and for adults without insurance. Please call 608-785-9872 to request an appointment for a COVID vaccine.  

County Strategic Plan Updates

The La Crosse County Board voted in September to add three new outcome measures to the County's Strategic Plan. The new measures are:

• Engaged and Empowered Employees: Achieve and maintain an employee engagement score of 100% favorable by 2029, with questions tied to trust in leadership, supervisor support, communication, belonging, and intent to stay.

• Healthy Infrastructure: Collaborate with the MPO to investigate a “Multi-County Transit Commission,” “Multi-Jurisdictional Transit Commission,” or similar organization structure, as a means to establish fast and reliable public transportation alternatives to meet the needs of all La Crosse County residents, including those with mobility barriers. This organization would also gather perspective from municipal partners to act on the investigation’s recommendation.

• Sustainable and Affordable Housing: Work with West Salem to implement phased approach to development of County Farm.

Read the full Strategic Plan, which includes information on completed outcome measures, here.

OWI Court 20th Anniversary

La Crosse County will celebrate the 20th anniversary of OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) Treatment Court during a ceremony at noon on Nov. 23 in the Branch 3 courtroom on the third floor of the La Crosse County Courthouse and Law Enforcement Center.

The event will recognize two decades of dedication, progress and achievement by the OWI Court team, participants and community partners, highlighting the program's lasting impact on public safety and recovery efforts.

County Careers

La Crosse County currently has a range of job openings for people interested in supporting our community. Current openings include:

• Director of Public Safety Communications
• Senior Human Services Supervisor
• Senior Librarian
• Office Assistant (Long Term Care)
• Deflection Program Social Worker

Help us spread the word about these opportunities. View all our job openings here.

County Funding at Work

The La Crosse County Board awarded funding to two bluffland projects in October. The Town of Shelby will receive $17,500 for Butterfly Trails improvements, including signage and invasive species removal. Additionally, $2,000 was awarded to Friends of the Blufflands for the Dobson Hill prairie restoration project.

Meanwhile, the County's Economic Development Advisory Committee last month awarded a $50,000 Acquisition and Demolition grant to Tim and Mallory Schneider. The funds will be used to demolish their existing home and build new at N5138 County Road M, in the Town of Hamilton.