RIVER FALLS – The 2023 Officer of the Year was honored at the March 26 River Falls City Council meeting: Steven Thomas. Chief Gordon Young touted Thomas for promoting the department’s missing statement, which is “protecting with courage and serving with compassion.”

Thomas served with the United States Air Force. He was hired as a reserve officer in 2009 and became full-time in 2013. He has been commended by his peers and his supervisors for his positive attitude, his ability to build strong relationships within the department and with other law enforcement agencies, and especially with the community.

“He has a calming, caring demeanor while in stressful and very dangerous situations, especially throughout this year,” Young said. “He’s described by his supervisors as a genuine, positive influence to those that he works with.”

In 2023 he received recognition from his peers, supervisors and the community in a particularly high-stress search warrant, Young said. The search warrant supervisor described Thomas’s response to a non-compliant subject as quick thinking, “using tools that he never thought could be used in such a situation, with an appropriate reaction to a fluid situation in keeping with the high standards that he has and our agency has,” Young said.

Thomas has served as a mentor for many young officers and is an outstanding field training officer, emergency vehicle operations course instructor, evidence room technician and honor guard member, Young said.

“Within the past year he’s been to too many funerals within our region serving in that capacity,” Young said of Thomas’ honor guard duties.

Mayor Dan Toland presented Thomas with a plaque to a standing ovation. His wife and two children were present as well.

Annexation

The city council will vote on an annexation at its April 9 meeting concerning 22.66 acres in the town of River Falls south of Larson Park.

Assistant Director of Community Development Emily Shively said Luke and Andrea Chaffee and Kevin and Cynthia Haskins have submitted an annexation request for two parcels adjacent to Highway 29 to annex and rezone to R-2 Multiple Family (medium density).

“An annexation petition is a request from a landowner to have their properties become part of the City of River Falls,” Shively said.

Annexation petitions typically occur when a property is adjacent to city boundaries; utilities such as water and sewer are available to serve new development; and a landowner is working with a developer who would like to create new housing or places for new jobs and services consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan.

The city is not reviewing any specific development proposals for the area at this time, Shively said. However, the property owners are working with a developer who would like to build a new neighborhood on the property consisting of 31 single family home lots and a 53-bed supportive housing facility for adults with autism.

No official application has been submitted yet, but a design concept has been provided. The existing home at N8118 Highway 29 would remain and become integrated into the new single-family neighborhood.

Other business

• During public comment, town of Clifton resident and representative for the River Falls Alliance for the Homeless Dana Linscott said nearly 200 citizens are willing to provide resources to homeless people in River Falls. He accused Toland and RFPD for turning a blind eye to the problem and ended by saying, “Please fix this.”
• The council voted to replat Outlot 1 in the St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity Eco Village as a single-family home lot. The original plan for the lot was a community center. The organization believes the land would be better used to build a home for a veteran.