Your neighbor's guide to what's happening at City Hall — October 24, 2026

The Big Takeaway

Money Watch

• The landfill. The $2.47 million price tag is a budget estimate, not a signed contract — bids will tell the real story. For a city of roughly 2,000 households, that's on the order of $1,200 per household if you divided it up, though it's being financed through a USDA low-interest loan and paid back over many years, not billed to you at once.^[3] The committee also approved an easement so the city can keep reaching the landfill across land owned by Bethel Home — negotiated price: $1.00.^[3]

• City Hall borrowing. The Council will get an update on a $115,000 taxable general obligation promissory note (Series 2026B) to cover the 2027 City Hall lease payment — roughly $55 per household.^[1] The agenda lists it as an update, not a vote.

• Two construction pay requests are up for approval: #11 on the Center Avenue project and #12 on the Hanson Farm project. The agenda names them but attaches no dollar figures, so the amounts won't be public until the meeting packet or the discussion itself.^[1] Same goes for the routine Payment of Bills at both the Finance/Personnel Committee and the Council.^[1][2]

• A tax question worth watching. Back on August 20, the Joint Review Board voted to recommend that the Council amend the city's development agreement with VEDA covering the old NCR building — now the Food Enterprise building. The building is eligible to become tax exempt and has requested a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes), which would cut its payment to roughly 50% of what a taxable property pays. Board member Charles Jacobson asked whether it could ever be switched back to full taxes; the answer was no, as long as it remains tax exempt.^[5]

Coming Up

Meetings are open to the public — most have a public comment period near the top of the agenda. See the city's full meeting calendar for dates beyond the next two weeks.

The Quick Rundown

• Manufactured home protections. The Council will discuss, with possible action, a resolution supporting protections for manufactured home residents.^[1]

• Historic preservation rules. Up for possible action: changes to who serves on the Historic Preservation Commission, how long demolition permits take, and the application deadline for a "certificate of appropriateness" (the sign-off needed before altering a historic property).^[1]

• Curfew and loud vehicles. First readings of amended ordinances on curfew (Chapter 9.28) and disorderly use of a motor vehicle (Chapter 10.38), both from the Public Safety Committee. A first reading is a discussion step — no final vote happens that night.^[1]

• Two land splits. The Council will review certified survey maps just outside city limits for Lisa Andresen and for Timothy & Beth Lee, both forwarded by the Plan Commission.^[1]

• TID 7 is growing. The Plan Commission approved an amendment in August adding 29 parcels, including fairgrounds-area property and land from Sands Road to Effingers. Consultant Andrew Kurtz told the commission it adds about $6.3 million in project costs plus another million for community development, and puts the city at 10.76% against the state's 12% cap.^[6]

• Closed session. The Council expects to go behind closed doors to discuss a professional development plan for the Utility Billing Clerk, then return to open session for any action.^[1]

• Trick-or-treat has moved. The Chamber told the Tourism Commission in August that its Halloween event will be held at the county fairgrounds on October 30 for two hours, replacing the previous downtown event.^[7]

One More Thing

Sources

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The Viroqua Public Record is an independent community summary of public meetings. It is not affiliated with the City of Viroqua.