Board Oks limo, BearCat grants

La Crosse Tribune, Oct 21, 2005 by Magney, Reid

Transportation and public safety loomed large Thursday for the La Crosse County Board, which approved keeping the sheriff's controversial BearCat armored truck and accepted a state grant to provide limo rides to and from the county's taverns.

Wisconsin's Department of Transportation is giving the county a $35,000 grant aimed at keeping men ages 21 to 35 from driving drunk.

The city of La Crosse and the University of WisconsinLa Crosse already provide a "Safe Ride" bus from campus to the downtown bar district. The state grant would provide limo trips to participating taverns and back to any county resident of legal drinking age.

The idea is to separate drunks from their vehicles, said Al Graewin of the county health department. The state chose limos because a focus group of young men didnt want to ride in taxis.

Several supervisors questioned the wisdom of the idea.

Supervisor Terry Hanson, a recovering alcoholic who hasn't drank in 15 years, said he would have loved to have a limo ride when he was drinking.

"It would have allowed me to continue with my addictions," he said, noting that only a drunken driving arrest made him stop drinking.

"If this prevents one or two fatal accidents in the next year, it's worth it," said Supervisor George Hammes, one of 24 votes in favor of the grant. Four opposed it, and one abstained.

Then came time to vote on the BearCat, a political hot potato since supervisors discovered in August that top county officials and the sheriff had signed off on acquiring the $180,000 armored truck with federal grant money without telling the whole county board.

Supervisor Jill Billings tried to change the resolution accepting the BearCat to have the county offer it to a local National Guard unit and to Fort McCoy. While the state and federal governments are handing out money for armored trucks, they're cutting funds for health and safety programs, she said.

If it isn't possible for give the BearCat to the military, "at least we tried to do the right thing. ... We tried to say, 'No, thanks,' to the offer of another feeding at the federal trough."

"A few minutes ago, we were talking about limo rides for drunks because it's a safety issue," said Supervisor Karl Halverson, a former sheriff. "Don't we care about the safety of these law enforcement officers? ... Boy, sometimes I think I'm on Mars."

After much debate, Billings' motion failed, 6-23. The board then voted 23-6 to accept the BearCat.