To the editor,

Much has been written about how River Falls has been recognized as a regional and national leader in sustainable practices. While much credit is deserved for individuals who have worked tirelessly on the city’s behalf, it truly takes a community effort to achieve all that the city has achieved.

There are many sustainability organizations doing great work in River Falls and the surrounding area that deserve to be recognized. This list includes, but is not limited to: Hope for Earth, UW-River Falls, the School District of River Falls, CVTC, Grow to Share, Kinni River Land Trust, Bee City, Prairie Enthusiasts, Trout Unlimited, Friends of Lake George, GROWW, etc.  

We also must recognize that each of us as citizens has played and will continue to play a vital role in the sustainability of our community. We do this through using reusable water bottles, straws, grocery bags, etc. We do this by turning off the water and lights when we aren’t using them. We do this by investing in renewable energy through Green Blocks or solar. Whenever we do any of these things and more, we are contributing to a brighter future for ourselves, our friends and family, our children and grandchildren, and our entire community.

I would like to thank the City of River Falls for its continued commitment to engaging with sustainable organizations and the citizens of our community. We look forward to seeing the shape of the new sustainability manager position and having the opportunity to provide feedback.

When the new position is filled, we look forward to increasing the collaboration among the city, sustainable organizations, and citizens. Together we can develop a climate action plan to ensure that we preserve the tremendous assets we have inherited and leave this world better than when we found it.

Lance Hovland

City of River Falls