1410 WIZM

The Mississippi has dropped below 10 feet in La Crosse...

The National Weather Service says so, marking the river at 9-point-7 this morning. That means the no-wake restriction for La Crosse County boaters has expired. But, since the level is still so close to 10 feet, City Hall is asking boat owners to keep their speeds down to avoid causing wave damage to shorelines and riverfront property.

Flood waters have receded. The Mississippi is down to just about 10 feet at La Crosse today. That's two feet under flood stage. But the effect of high waters lingers a bit. The city's parks department is keeping Pettibone Park closed for now after the park was completely inundated by high water just days ago. Parks superintendent Gar Amunson says the closing is a precaution to keep some who use the park from damaging the grounds by driving on the soft earth.

A couple of vetoes from La Crosse mayor Matt Harter this week. Harter has said no to the $25 dollar per council member reimbursement for internet service. He's also vetoed an ordinance that would have allowed police to ticket for pot possession. Not because he thinks the measure lacks merit. The mayor says he just wants to be sure no one's confused about the ordinance.   And he wants the public to be clear that a similar ordinance would not be less than what state law already allows for.   Also, Harter says he wanted to avoid the impression that the city was taking the criminality out of illicit drug use.

The clock is ticking on a potential veto of La Crosse's decriminalization of marijuana possession. In a surprise move last week, the city council voted to give police the option to write tickets for first time possession of marijuana up to 25 grams. The veto deadline for the ordinance is up today. Mayor Matt Harter has been noncommittal about whether he would veto the ordinance. Police chief Ed Kondracki who is adamantly opposed to the measure, suggesting enacting it is like profiting from blood diamonds, will not comment on the council's vote.