Future Focus

Final versions of the county's five-year Strategic Plan and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) Report were approved by the county board on Aug. 15.

• The Strategic Plan will guide decision making at all levels of our organization and includes a new vision statement for the county. The vision statement reads: "La Crosse County’s vibrant local economy and strong public services create the foundation for a healthy, safe and inclusive community." View the plan here.
• The DEIB Report lists recommendations designed to make our county work better for all employees and residents of our county. Read the report here.
• Both the Strategic Plan and the DEIB Report are the result of input from the public, county board, and county employees. Thank you to all who participated.
• Stay tuned as work to implement the Strategic Plan and prioritize recommendations from the DEIB Report begins.

Hillview Groundbreaking Oct. 2

The county board also approved bids for our $19.6 million project to transform Hillview Health Care Center on Aug. 15. The project includes:

• A 35-bed Community Based Residential Facility
• An Intergenerational Day Center (child care and programming for older adults)
• A 4-bed crisis stabilization unit
• 10 units of housing
• Upgrades to existing skilled nursing beds

We are inviting the community to a groundbreaking ceremony for the project at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 2, at Hillview (3501 Park Lane Dr., La Crosse). Please join us to learn more about the project and how it will increase support for our community.

Rock Solid Finances

La Crosse County has maintained its Aa1 debt rating from Moody's Investor Services. The rating is the second highest available and means the county is viewed as financially healthy. Moody's provided the rating as the county was preparing to borrow $8 million for the Hillview project. The Aa1 rating allowed the county to secure a low interest rate of 3.7% on that debt. Revenue from Hillview, not property taxes, will be used to pay the debt down. In a statement, Moody's said the Aa1 rating "reflects the county's solid economic base, strong fund balance and liquidity, and a modest long-term liabilities ratio with low fixed-costs."

Employee Spotlight: Tyler Bluske

"I help people who are struggling with alcohol or other drug problems but might not know about the services that are available," says Tyler Bluske. "It's kind of like showing people all the puzzle pieces and then seeing if we can work to put them together." Tyler is a social worker with Integrated Support and Recovery Services (ISRS) at La Crosse County Human Services. He's a passionate advocate for the people he works with, which can include people experiencing homelessness. "It's really easy to have preconceived notions about people who are homeless, and maybe think they are addicts and criminals and they chose to be there, that they deserve it," he says. "Go and have a genuine conversation with people, and you'll change your mind in about five minutes when they tell you all the things that put them in that position. Often, they're working harder to maintain where they're at just to stay alive than many of us do." Tyler's job can be tough, but also rewarding. "It can be a very uplifting job when we see someone turn their life around," he says. "It's a privilege to be a part of that."

ADRC Serves 100 Meals

Staff and volunteers from the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of La Crosse County served 100 meals to older adults last week for National Senior Citizens Day at the South Side Neighborhood Center, La Crosse. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success.

The La Crosse County Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Team has released its 2024 annual report, which shares statistics and recommendations. Key takeaways include:

• 55 people lost their lives to drug overdose in 2023, a 45% increase compared to 2022.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, were involved in 85% of overdose deaths in 2023.
• Lives lost to drug overdose are most common in people ages 25-64.
• 75% of people who lost their life to an overdose had permanent, stable housing.

The OFR team outlined recommendations to prevent overdose deaths based on the data from local cases reviewed. Four overarching themes were identified: reduce stigma, understand harm reduction, increase bystander response, and foster community connections. The La Crosse County Health Department and other partners work through the Alliance to HEAL to improve community outcomes related to opioid use. Read the full OFR report here.

DARE Officer of the Year

La Crosse County Deputy Cody Bernhardt has been named as the 2024 D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year. The statewide honor from the Wisconsin D.A.R.E Officers Association recognizes Deputy Bernhardt's excellent work with local youth. Deputy Bernhardt works with 10 schools in La Crosse County, completing 33 classes annually. In the summer, he teaches D.A.R.E. at two Boys and Girls Clubs locations to about 80 students. Deputy Bernhardt's nomination for the award included several glowing endorsements from teachers and Boys and Girls Clubs staff that highligthed his positive impact. Well done Cody!

Rail Safety Education

“See Tracks? Think Train Week" is coming to our area on September 23-24. La Crosse County officials are collaborating with State Operation Lifesaver volunteers, railroad police, and local law enforcement for events in schools and Boys and Girls Clubs. The public is invited to Bangor Public Library at 6 p.m., Monday, Sept. 23, to learn more about rail safety. Click here for more information on "See Tracks? Think Train Week." Contact Bob Gollnik, La Crosse Area Planning Director, at rgollnik@lacrossecounty.org with questions about local events and watch for more updates.

Library: Protection from Scams

Jeff Kersten from the Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection will be at Holmen Library on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. to discuss common scams that target older adults, and what to do if you or someone you know falls victim to a scam. Helpful factsheets will be available. No registration is required. Learn more about this and other La Crosse County Library programs here.