Business as usual at harbor this year, despite disputed lease

Mills has run harbor for 40 years and lease was to expire in 2027

The lease dispute between the city of La Crosse and the operator of the the Municipal Boat Harbor, Steve Mills, won’t prevent normal operation of the harbor for the upcoming season.  

The city recently moved to evict Mills from the harbor and end his lease. 

Mills said he can’t comment on the dispute because of the legal actions but he did say, at this point, he would be the one operating the harbor throughout the summer boating season.

Mills also said most of the slips in the harbor are spoken for this season, though he does have some spaces for boats 18′ or smaller.

The city has cited a number of problems with Mills’ operation of the harbor.

Last fall, the city filed eviction papers on the lease Mills has held for 40 years. 

There have been ongoing complaints from the city about Mills for a few years now.

The two sides had reworked a lease in 2013 – it was to expire in 2027 – but city attorneys said last fall Mills wasn’t sticking to the agreement – one that included more restrictions and clarified issues of the former lease. 

Mills has consistently refuted city claims while still working to solve apparent problems city attorneys and parks officials have pointed out.