Hillview Recognized as New Care Model

Hillview is being recognized as a new model for long-term care, housing, and community services. On Wednesday, we welcomed visitors from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) in the morning and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin in the afternoon.

DHS staff were especially interested in our Intergenerational Center, which will offer childcare and programming for older adults, with opportunities for shared activities. An older adult might take an art class in the morning and read to a child in the afternoon. This is a new model for our county that will benefit both groups. The center has faced some delays in getting off the ground, but is expected to open early next year.

Sen. Baldwin helped secure $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for our $19.6 million Hillview renovation project, completed this year.

During her visit, she toured the new Community Based Residential Facility and Park Lane Studios, which provides 10 units of housing for formerly homeless individuals. Park Lane Studios has shown strong results, with tenants increasing income, building rental histories, and pursuing employment or higher education.

Hillview's renovated nursing home remains the foundation of the campus, and recently received a five-star rating, the highest available, from the federal government.

Join us at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, for a ribbon cutting to recognize the opening of the Goose Island Connector Trail. We'll meet a half mile south of Southern Bluffs Elementary School, along the new trail on the west side of STH 35.

The new Goose Island Connector Trail is a 1.3‑mile, 10‑foot‑wide paved shared‑use path running adjacent to State Highway 35 in La Crosse County. The trail begins at County Highway GI in the Town of Shelby and concludes at Sunnyside Drive in the City of La Crosse.

The $356,000 project was sponsored by the Town of Shelby and received funding through the WisDOT Transportation Alternatives Program. La Crosse County provided $100,000 in local matching funds, recognizing the trail’s vital connection to Goose Island Park and Campground. 

Emplify Donates $100k to Pathways Home

Pathways Home has been awarded $100,000 in grant funding from the Emplify Health by Gundersen Thriving Community Impact Fund. The funds will support housing and services for unsheltered people in our community with the highest needs.

Since launching in 2024, over 360 people have been housed through Pathways Home in partnership with community organizations. Overall, homelessness is down by about one-third over the last two years. The focus of Pathways Home, which is led by the City and County, is providing housing paired with effective services.

Emplify's donation, which follows a $100,000 donation from Mayo Clinic, shows strong community support for Pathways Home. Anyone can donate to Pathways Home through the Pathways Held Lease and Rent Support Fund at La Crosse Area Community Foundation here (the minimum donation is $10).

In the last County Connection, we talked about the County’s proposed $209 million budget for 2027, which supports services and jobs throughout our county. However, much of that $209 million is tied to specific uses, such as Medicaid funding that supports much of our Human Services and Long-Term Care departments.

Discretionary funding is the part of the budget the County has the most control over. In our 2027 budget, we expect to have about $69 million in discretionary funding to distribute. This includes:

• Property tax levy: $39.4 million (up $700,000 from 2026)
• Sales tax: $18.6 million (up $1.1 million from 2026)
• State Shared Revenue: $5.3 million (up $200,000 from 2026)
• Interest income: $4 million (flat)
• Personal Property Aid: $743,000 (flat)
• Utility Tax from State: $751,000 (flat)

As the chart above shows, the largest share of our discretionary funding (22%), will go to the Sheriff’s Office, which includes patrol deputies and the County Jail. Human Services is next at 18%, followed by the Highway Department at 15%.

The 2027 La Crosse County budget will have a public hearing, followed by a County Board vote, on November 9.

Winter is Coming: Salt Delivery

The La Crosse County Highway Department took delivery of 13,200 tons of salt last week. The salt will be used to make brine for application on county, state, and some municipal roads over the winter.

Of that total, 9,000 tons is for County Highways. The County paid $104.52 a ton (for a total of $940,680), which is an increase of about $10 a ton compared to last year. The state ordered 4,200 tons for delivery to our shop, which La Crosse County will store and use on state roads.

During a major snowstorm, La Crosse County deploys 27 snowplows to clear roads and ensure schools and businesses can stay open and drivers can safely get to where they need to go.

Changes in Pathways Home Leadership

Jim Drees, Project Manager for Pathways Home, will retire at the end of the year. Vanessa Southworth, Assistant Manager in the Human Services Behavioral Health Division (ISRS), will take over as project manager on January 1, 2027.

In the months ahead, the Human Services Department will also hire a new Housing Support Supervisor, who will help move the next steps of the Pathways Home plan forward.

Drees helped build Pathways Home from the ground up, strengthening coordination and expanding housing and access to services. You can watch his recent interview with PBS Wisconsin about the program’s progress and the challenges ahead here.

Expo Offers Resources, Support to Veterans

Veterans and their families are invited to the 2026 Veterans Expo on Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Stoney Creek Hotel in Onalaska. Hosted by the La Crosse County Veterans Services Office, the event brings together resources and connections for veterans. It's an opportunity to learn about federal benefits, get a flu shot from Tomah VA staff, and connect with many local organizations who support veterans. Learn more about the La Crosse County Veterans Office at lacrossecounty.org/veterans.

Training to Help Voters use ADA-Compliant Machines

County Clerk Ginny Dankmeyer provided training on ADA-compliant voting machines to the Coffee Connection Visually Impaired Group that met at the American Legion in Onalaska last week.

The machines allow voters to mark their ballots independently using a touchscreen or audio guidance, with all selections read aloud as needed. Dankmeyer also answered questions about the voting process ahead of the November general election. Read WXOW's story from the event here.

Please make sure you have a plan to vote in the November 3 General Election. Check your registration, polling place, and see what's on your ballot at myvotewi.gov.

Input Needed for Brice Prairie Crossing Study

The La Crosse Area Planning Committee (LAPC) is asking Brice Prairie residents to share their feedback on the County Z and ZN railroad crossings. To participate, go to the project website here.

The community relies on just two access roads, both of which cross the same BNSF rail line. About 7,000 vehicle trips move through those crossings each day, and with 25 daily trains, both routes are often blocked at the same time.

The LAPC is conducting the Brice Prairie Railroad Crossing Study to evaluate options for possible crossing changes, including cost estimates, environmental considerations, and community priorities. The study runs through 2026 and 2027, with a final report expected at the end of 2027.

Youth Justice, WRAS Staff Attend State Conference

Staff from La Crosse County Youth Justice and Western Regional Adolescent Services attended the Wisconsin Juvenile Court Intake Conference in the Dells last month. The conference featured workshops on juvenile law, trauma‑informed care, adolescent development, equity and inclusion, restorative practices, and updates to intake procedures and statutes.

Pictured, left to right and back to front: Kenny Spencer (Juvenile Detention Specialist), Corey Lorenz (Juvenile Detention Specialist), Henry Sayner (Youth Justice Social Worker), Benjamin Trolinger (Superintendent, Juvenile Detention Facility), Ruthann Paulson (Youth Justice Social Worker), Hannah Sultze (Social Worker, Juvenile Detention Facility), Kristin Colberg (Interim Supervisor, Youth Justice), and Alain Pierre (Juvenile Detention Specialist).

County Careers

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

• Office Assistant - Economic Support Program
• Senior Human Services Supervisor - Housing Programs & Support Services
• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Fleet Support Technician

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