Resident questions special assessments as La Crosse committee approves St. Cloud Street sewer and water work
July 02, 2026 | La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin
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A La Crosse resident pressed city officials on July 2 after the Finance & Personnel Committee opened a public hearing on special assessments tied to a reconstruction project on the 800 block of St. Cloud Street.
Jer Yang, who said he and his father live on the block, told the committee he and his family were "a little confused of what's going on here" and asked whether the estimated cost related only to the new main in front of the house or to private connections as well.
Director Gallagher said the project includes a new sanitary main and, separately, a water-main item. He told the committee the sanitary portion of the project has total costs a little under $45,000, and that, under the city’s code formulas, the items eligible for assessment would amount to roughly $15,000 per property. He said the water work to the utility totaled a little over $87,000 and that the three properties that would be assessed would see amounts of about $5,000, $5,100 and $1,500 depending on the piping included.
Gallagher said property owners had received notices but not bills; if the council approves the assessments, amounts would become due next year and property owners could pay in full or spread payments over 10 or 15 years by adding them to the tax bill, with an interest rate tied to CPI.
Committee members asked for—and received—clarification about which parts of the system homeowners are responsible for. Gallagher said water leads from the boulevard to the house are owned by the homeowner while sanitary laterals from the house to the main are the homeowner’s responsibility; the project will remove old laterals and connect homes to the new main as part of the work.
After questions, Council member Janssen moved to close the public hearing and to adopt the sanitary-sewer assessment resolution; the committee voted 5–0 to approve the sanitary assessment and then 5–0 to approve the water-main assessment.
The approvals authorize the city to levy the described special assessments and to proceed with the utilities work on the 800 block of St. Cloud Street. Residents were advised to contact the city finance department about payment plans and detailed schedules.
The committee moved on to additional agenda items following the vote.
Jer Yang, who said he and his father live on the block, told the committee he and his family were "a little confused of what's going on here" and asked whether the estimated cost related only to the new main in front of the house or to private connections as well.
Director Gallagher said the project includes a new sanitary main and, separately, a water-main item. He told the committee the sanitary portion of the project has total costs a little under $45,000, and that, under the city’s code formulas, the items eligible for assessment would amount to roughly $15,000 per property. He said the water work to the utility totaled a little over $87,000 and that the three properties that would be assessed would see amounts of about $5,000, $5,100 and $1,500 depending on the piping included.
Gallagher said property owners had received notices but not bills; if the council approves the assessments, amounts would become due next year and property owners could pay in full or spread payments over 10 or 15 years by adding them to the tax bill, with an interest rate tied to CPI.
Committee members asked for—and received—clarification about which parts of the system homeowners are responsible for. Gallagher said water leads from the boulevard to the house are owned by the homeowner while sanitary laterals from the house to the main are the homeowner’s responsibility; the project will remove old laterals and connect homes to the new main as part of the work.
After questions, Council member Janssen moved to close the public hearing and to adopt the sanitary-sewer assessment resolution; the committee voted 5–0 to approve the sanitary assessment and then 5–0 to approve the water-main assessment.
The approvals authorize the city to levy the described special assessments and to proceed with the utilities work on the 800 block of St. Cloud Street. Residents were advised to contact the city finance department about payment plans and detailed schedules.
The committee moved on to additional agenda items following the vote.
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