The Viroqua Public Record: April 18, 2026
Justin Running hands off the gavel. Krista Browne is sworn in as mayor Tuesday night. New council, new committees, new rules.
Your community newsletter — plain talk about city business
The Big Takeaway
Viroqua is getting a new mayor on Tuesday night. After serving as mayor, Justin Running gavels the outgoing council to a close, and Krista Browne is sworn in as Viroqua's incoming mayor. Ward 4 is also turning over, with Kyle Bartelt stepping into the seat previously held by Emma Hood.
This is the once-every-two-years changing of the guard — the old council adjourns sine die, newly elected officials take their oath of office, and the fresh council gets organized under new leadership. If you voted in the spring election (or wish you had), this is where your choices start to matter. The new council will elect its president, the new mayor will announce committee appointments, and the ground rules for how your city government operates for the next two years get set. It's a short meeting, but it shapes everything that follows.[1]
Money Watch
No specific dollar figures on the agenda this time around, but one item worth noting: the council will designate depositories for City funds — essentially deciding which banks hold Viroqua's money. It's a routine vote, but it determines where your tax dollars sit and earn (or don't earn) interest until the city spends them.[1]
Coming Up
Special Meeting of the Common Council
City Hall's lower-level community room (124 W Decker Street). This is open to the public and includes two public comment periods — one near the start and one before adjournment. If you want the new mayor and council's first impression of you to be a good one, this is your moment. You can also attend virtually: Join via Zoom (Meeting ID: 863 8467 7501).[1]
NIMS Training for Elected Officials
The council will pick a date from five options: May 6, May 13, May 20, May 27, or June 3. NIMS (National Incident Management System) training is required for elected officials so they understand emergency response coordination. Think of it as "what to do when things go sideways" school.[1]
McIntosh Memorial Library Board
The McIntosh Memorial Library Board meets. Unfortunately, the full agenda details were unavailable, so keep an eye on the library's postings for specifics.[2]
The Quick Rundown
Adjournment sine die — That's Latin for "without another day," meaning the old council formally dissolves. Mayor Running gavels his final meeting to a close, and no more business is conducted under the 2024-2026 council. Then the newly elected officials take their oath and get right to work.[1]
Election of Council president — The alderpersons will vote among themselves to choose who runs meetings when Mayor Browne isn't available. Worth watching if you're curious about internal council dynamics under new leadership.[1]
Council rules and amendments — The new council reviews and approves its operating rules. This covers things like how long public comments can be, how votes are conducted, and meeting procedures. Any proposed changes from past practice could signal a shift in tone under the new administration.[1]
Official City newspaper designation — The council picks which local paper publishes legal notices (meeting announcements, public hearings, ordinances). It's required by state law and determines where you'd see official city business in print.[1]
Mayor's committee appointments — Mayor Browne will announce who sits on which council committees — Finance/Personnel, Public Works, Parks & Rec, Public Safety, and others. This is arguably the most consequential item on the agenda, since committee assignments determine which alderpersons shape policy in each area before it ever reaches a full council vote — and these will be the first appointments of the new administration.[1]
One More Thing
Tuesday night is a literal handoff. Justin Running hands over the gavel after his time as mayor; Krista Browne picks it up and becomes the person steering council meetings for the next two years. Kyle Bartelt takes Emma Hood's Ward 4 seat. One group walks in with the titles, another walks out with them. Democracy in real time, happening at 5 p.m. on a Tuesday in the basement of City Hall — and worth showing up for.[1]
Sources
The Viroqua Public Record is an independent community summary of public meetings. It is not affiliated with the City of Viroqua.