RIVER FALLS – Three incumbent alderpersons received the oath of office at the April 18 River Falls City Council organizational meeting, including Sean Downing (District 1), Alyssa Mueller (District 3) and Diane Odeen (Alderperson at large). Nick Carow (District 2), who was not present, received his oath earlier.

The council also took care of appointments and committees, typical after an April election.

The council elected the following:

Council President: Scott Morrissette

Comptroller: Diane Odeen, who appointed Jeff Bjork as deputy comptroller.

Mayor Dan Toland appointed Odeen as parliamentarian. The council also elected Odeen to serve on the plan commission, with Bjork opposed. The mayor then appointed alderpersons to the following committees:

Historic Preservation Commission: Alyssa Mueller

Library Board: Jeff Bjork

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: Scott Morrissette

Design Review Committee: Sean Downing

Utility Advisory Board: Nick Carow

Housing Authority: Todd Bjerstedt

River Falls Creates Public Art: Sean Downing

The city’s public depositories were established per an approved resolution (with Morrissette abstaining due to his job at a local bank). Public depositories are financial institutions the city uses for investments, checking or savings accounts.

US Bank NA: P-card transactions and for holding the city’s long-term investments

State of Wisconsin Pooled Investment Fund: Holding the city’s long-term investments

First National Bank of River Falls: Holding the city’s Section 125 deposits

River Falls State Bank: For possible future debt issues

Security Financial Bank: General operating and payroll accounts

The council designated the Pierce County Journal as the city’s official newspaper.

City staff update

Councilmembers heard an update on city staffing, including new and promoted employees filling positions vacated by retirements, succession planning, resignations or promotions. Since May 2022, 15 new employees filled full and part-time positions in the city:

• Katherine Ainsworth, library assistant, filled vacancy
• Jeffrey Wolf, mechanic, filled vacancy
• Erica Ellefson, public works manager, filled vacancy
• Joseph Walen, public works maintenance, filled vacancy
• Lucas Peck, public works maintenance, new position
• Scott Kosmo, senior accountant, new position
• Janet Burns, senior accountant, filled vacancy
• Kristine Basom, senior financial analyst, filled vacancy
• Steven Cash, fire chief, filled vacancy
• Jonathan Thoen, IT specialist, new position
• Amanda Hanson, human resources specialist, new position
• Christopher Buntjer, senior civil engineer, new position
• Collin Fluno, police officer, filled vacancy
• Allison Libor, police officer, filled vacancy
• Adam Amaro, police officer, filled vacancy

Four promotions and position changes occurred within the city since May 2022:

• Emily Shivley, city planner to assistant director of community development
• David Holodnack, mechanic to lead mechanic
• Charles Larson, public works maintenance lead to public works maintenance
• David Paynotta, water/wastewater operator to certified water/wastewater operator

The following employees resigned or retired in the past year:

• Scott Nelson, fire chief
• Pat Yunker, lead public works maintenance
• Ray Curtis, lead mechanic
• Clio McLagan, library assistant
• Cody Tomlinson, police officer
• Sam Hosszu, senior accountant
• Tracy Biederman, accounting manager
• Mike Stifter, public works director
• Paige Harlow, police officer
• Joe Moran, facilities maintenance manager
• Amanda Kramer, public works maintenance
• Zach Regnier, senior civil engineer

The city is currently recruiting for a municipal program manager, a public works maintenance worker and seasonal recreation staff.

During a review of the bylaws, which the council will vote on in May, the council discussed updates such as remote meeting participation, the requirements for calling special meetings, agenda setting for meetings, social media posts and meeting minute keeping.

Councilmembers are discouraged from sending letters to the editor to newspapers relating to city issues except for stating or clarifying city policies, Bjork said. But he questioned whether or not that guidance needs to extend to posts and comments on social media.  

“I think that’s a good point,” Odeen said. “We all still have First Amendment rights and can say what we want to say. I think ‘discourage’ might just be a good reminder for us that we’re representatives of the city and that we should be respectful and cautious of what we say because we’re public officials.”

“And they assume we’re speaking for the city,” Toland added.

City staff is recommending the discontinuation of written summaries during closed sessions. According to a memo in the council packet, City Clerk Amy White received advice from the League of Wisconsin Municipalities that substantive actions taken in closed session must be recorded to the same extent as minutes in open session. However, if no action is taken, the minutes can record just the motion, second and vote to go back into closed session.

“The purpose of going into closed session is to maintain confidentiality of the discussion,” the memo states. “Therefore, keeping a detailed summary of discussion creates a public record than can subsequently be subject to request under the public records law.”

Not writing a summary of what occurs in closed session other than actions taken would avoid disclosing the substance of a closed session, staff concluded.