New stop sign, expanded school zone proposed

RIVER FALLS – A River Falls corner bar will soon have a new identity as a Nashvillestyle country western tavern and restaurant.

The River Falls City Council approved a combination Class B liquor and Class B beer For Tarnation Tavern, LLC at its Feb. 22 meeting for 128 N. Main St., formerly Maverick’s Corner Saloon. MK Corner Saloon LLC (agent Mike Kappers of Somerset) surrendered its license to Tarnation Tavern and agent Fred Barr, who is purchasing the building.

Barr plans to completely renovate the space and offer food, live music Thursdays through Sundays and dancing. According to the license application, the tavern will serve quality chicken sandwiches and hamburgers, appetizers, salads and light entrees, all locally sourced when possible.

Also listed on the application was Colleen Gehring, of New Richmond, who holds the liquor license for Mallards in New Richmond. Barr also holds a liquor license for Ziggy’s on Main in Stillwater, Minn.

The application states the tavern will employ 11 part-time and full-time employees. Barr said they hope to be open by June 1.

Traffic map changes The council held public hearings on three proposed traffic map changes, the adoption of which will be voted on at a future council meeting. No one spoke at the hearings. Proposals include: •Adding a stop sign on Hamilton Drive at the intersection of Washington Street

•Expanding the school zone for Westside Elementary from 1116 W. Maple St. to the north side of 296 Sylla St.

•No parking fronting 403 N. Eighth St., from the driveway of 403 N. Eighth St. south to the corner of East Cedar Street.

The city recently received a resident request to install a stop or yield sign at the intersection of Hamilton Drive and Washington Street due to increased traffic and several near traffic accidents. The intersection, which is an uncontrolled three-way intersection, is one block from Rocky Branch Elementary. The school connects to the intersection with a sidewalk between Bartosh Lane and Washington Street. Hamilton Park is located one block north on Washington Street. If approved, warning flags would be installed for a minimum of six months on the new stop sign post.

The police department requested the city extend the Westside Elementary school zone further west on West Maple Street to encompass a sidewalk that connects directly to the school. The sidewalk, which is adjacent to 1163 W. Maple St., is frequently used by students going to and from school. If approved, warning flags would be installed for a minimum of six months on the new start and end school zone posts.

In January 2022, the police department received a request to evaluate the parking in front of 403 N. Eighth St. after an accident involving a bus striking a vehicle. The bus, traveling south, couldn’t swing out wide enough because of a parked car in front of 403 N. Eighth St. Because the location is near Greenwood Elementary and Meyer Middle School, there is a lot of bus and parent drop off/pick up traffic. If no vehicles are allowed to park here, buses traveling south on Eighth Street will be able to make wider turns and reduce collision possibilities with vehicles traveling west on Cedar Street.

Dam removal

The council approved a resolution allowing the City of River Falls Electric Utility to complete an application for a $1 million dam removal grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The grant application deadline is March 4.

The award would be for 100% of the total eligible project costs (with no matching funds required). The award would be reimbursed after the first 50% of the allowable grant is spent and submitted to the DNR. The second half of the grant would be awarded after the community has submitted for the second 50% of the allowable costs.

Also related to dam removal, the council approved the first Letter of Agreement between the city and the Kinni Corridor Collaborative (KCC). The letter defines the scope, roles and responsibilities in the Powell Falls hydro dam decommissioning and removal. This addresses the basic first steps in the dam removal process, which includes the physical removal of the lower dam and restoration of the new river channel. The goals of the letter are removing the Powell Falls hydro facilities and establishing the Kinni as a free-flowing, cold-water Class 1 trout stream by 2026. The letter outlines the roles and expectations that enable the two to work together as a public-private partnership.

According to the city, it anticipates planning and permitting activities to occur in 2022, with deconstruction starting as early as 2023. The project completion dates is anticipated to be on or before Aug. 1, 2026.

For a more detailed look at the letter and project outline, you can view the Feb. 22 city council packet at rfcity.org Other business

•The council approved a resolution declaring May 14, 2022 as World Migratory Bird Day. The resolution is required to maintain the city’s Bird City Wisconsin designation. The annual migratory bird festival, known as “Wings of Spring,” will be held May 7 at City Hall, organized by the St. Croix Valley Bird Club. According to the resolution, nearly 140 species travel between nesting habitats in the Kinnickinnic River Watershed and wintering grounds in South and Central America.

•The council approved a resolution approving the city’s private data policy, which will apply to the collection, use, disclosure, sharing and retention of personal information obtained from individuals’ interaction with the city in person, remotely and/or electronically.

•The council went into closed session to discuss sale of property in Mann Valley Corporate Park. No action was taken.