RIVER FALLS — River Falls City Council approved the 2025 city budget that sees an increase of over $9 million from 2024 during the Nov. 12 meeting.

The increase was 17% from 2024 as the 2025 budget increased from $53.1 million to $62.2 million. A large portion of the increase stems from a $6 million increase in capital projects that is largely impacted by the fire station remodeling project that totals $10 million through a combination of federal funding, cash financing and General Obligation borrowing.

Emerald Ash Borer treatment is one thing on the radar of city staff, with its budget increasing by $50,000 to $300,000.

Levy numbers will rise to about $8.3 million, a 6.1% increase from a year ago, but a 3.81% increase when city growth is factored in. The budget was approved unanimously.

Alderperson Sean Downing cited the biosolids facility as a benefit to the city, saving River Falls an estimated $300,000 per year. Downing said many cities are failing to diversify, and River Falls is a leader from that standpoint.

“At one point we were talking like it saved $100,000, then I went and talked with the staff more and found out it’s actually considerably more after reviewing it,” Downing said. “That’s a big deal. I think that we’re moving forward as a city, targeting these expenses in a responsible manner.”

Fee schedule

Council approved a fee schedule that updates sewer fees as well as a few other smaller fees. The sewer fee is being raised in order to bring cost recovery to 100% from where it stands at 92.6%.

To do so, the average monthly bill will increase by $1.10 ($13.20 per year), a 2.8% increase.

“Proposed rates bring each customer category closer to 100 percent cost recovery. Actual revenues will vary based on each customer’s individual usage. It’s important to note that there are certain utility revenues, such as capital contributions and impact fees, that are non-recurring in nature and affect the utility’s net income and cash position,” city documents state.

Other fee changes are lawn mowing/weed removal from $80 to $80 plus actual costs, snow/ice removal from $80 or $120 for a corner lot to $80 plus actual costs, refuse collection fee from $19 to $21 per unit/month and salt brine from $0.38 per gallon to $0.40 per gallon. The refuse tag fee has been removed.

Snow removal

Public Works Manager Erica Ellefson presented on snow removal procedures as the heart of winter rapidly approaches.

The city has 14 main staff who operate on the snow removal team.

“It really does take all of us working together to clear not only the streets in the city, but also the paved trails and the public parking lots,” Ellefson said.

Ellefson said many do not know that the city has a priority list of what gets cleared. Top priority goes to main streets to businesses, schools and emergency services. After that, priority goes to thru streets to housing developments, followed by neighborhood streets and, lastly, dead end streets, cul-de-sacs and short streets. The city has five single-axle plow trucks that they named Sno Force 1, Scoop Dogg, Mr. Plow, Blizzard Wizard and Orange Peeler.

For anti-icing, the city uses rock salt, which is corrosive but not as effective at colder temperatures, salt brine, which is rock salt and water used for temperatures above 15 degrees, and Beet Heet for temperatures under 15 degrees.

Overall, the process involves pre-treating the roads, maintaining them, plowing the roads for 8-10 hours after a snow event and coming in the next night to plow odd/even parking. Ellefson said it takes multiple days to fully clear the snow.

Other business

• Accepted a contract with Running Inc. as the city’s shared-ride service for 2025-26 and approved the lease agreement for 2025. The city received grant funding that goes toward the shared-ride program, with the maximum fiscal impact under the contract being $385,284 per year. “Due to a decrease in estimated revenues for year 2025 and the increase in cost of providing the service, city staff is evaluating current passenger fares and will conduct a rate change study for future review by City Council,” city documents state.
• Heard a resolution that would annex 26.82 acres at 212 Paulson Road near Radio Road from the Town of Troy to the City of River Falls. The land would be used to build two to three new multi-family housing buildings according to city documents. There are multiple steps in the annexation process with the next being a December review by the Plan Commission.
• Wrote off a pair of uncollectable accounts of fire department charges totaling over $1,000.
• Approved a combination Class B liquor and beer license for Streeter’s.