March 25, 2026
By TIM HUNDT
VIROQUA, Wis. – The City of Viroqua is exploring a plan to lock the gates at the municipal brush and compost site and force residents to drop off their yard waste at a new collection area next to the downtown public works shop.
City Engineer Sarah Grainger and Street Superintendent Wade Vikemyr presented the proposal to the Public Works Committee after the city was hit with a $15,000 dollar cleanup bill. Grainger explained that new environmental restrictions prevent the city from burning large piles of brush overnight while unattended. This forces the city to find new ways to control the volume and type of waste being dropped off.
The city has maintained a yard waste and composting dump site on the outskirts of the city off of Lewison Road that is not locked and residents can use to dump their own yard waste.
“And the guys came up with a great idea and I thought it was really awesome that they thought outside the box,” said Grainger. “And so that is what we are going to present tonight see if you guys like it.”
The plan would create a designated collection spot on the east side of the newly constructed salt and sand shed in the city. Grainger noted that the downtown location would provide more supervision to ensure residents are properly separating their compost and brush.
“So we would set up a location in the city at the shop where there is just more people like more eyeballs more things happening especially during the day help us keep the piles in more of a controlled setting,” said Grainger. “And then we would haul that amount to go out to the brush site.”
Vikemyr told the committee that moving the public collection point to the city shop is necessary to stop widespread illegal dumping. He said people from outside the city are driving in at night and dumping appliances and garbage.
“The reason is to keep the site for the residents, taxpayers, because we are getting people from La Crosse, Lafarge, everywhere that come in the middle of the night,” said Vikemyr. “And we have seen grills down there, stoves, swing sets.”
Under the new proposal the main gates at the old brush site would be locked to the general public. Grainger added that local commercial tree cutting businesses would be able arrange access to the site directly. The city plans to install security cameras at both the new downtown location and the locked rural site to catch anyone breaking the rules.
“We are gonna have to have cameras out there too because people are probably gonna take a while,” said Grainger. “And I think it is the best solution I have heard so far, and like I said, it is an experiment.”
Vikemyr outlined the costs to set up the new collection area downtown estimating it would take about three dozen concrete blocks to build the bays. He estimated the blocks would cost about $2,500 dollars and the department would also need to purchase signs and security cameras. Committee member Seth McClurg supported the plan and suggested a budget to cover the transition.
“I think a simple sign out at the old site directing them to the city is critical,” said McClurg. “I make a motion that we approve a budget up to $5,000 dollars to accommodate the creation of the new compost and waste site at the city buildings.”
The committee unanimously approved the motion to fund the new site setup. The proposal will need to get approval from the city council before it is implemented.
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