RIVER FALLS – The River Falls City Council April 16 organizational meeting began with oaths of office being administered to newly re-elected Mayor Dan Toland and alderpersons Scott Morrissette, Jeff Bjork and Todd Bjerstedt.

After the formalities, the council appointed the following positions and designations:

Council President – Scott Morrissette

Comptroller – Diane Odeen

Deputy Comptroller – Nick Carow (appointed by Odeen)

Parliamentarian – Diane Odeen

Plan Commission – Diane Odeen

Historic Preservation Commission – Alyssa Mueller

Library Board – Jeff Bjork

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board – Scott Morrissette

Design Review Committee – Sean Downing

Utility Advisory Board – Nick Carow

River Falls Housing Authority – Todd Bjerstedt

River Falls Creates Public Art – Sean Downing

City Attorney – S.C. Weld & Riley

Public depositories – US Bank NA, State of Wisconsin Pooled Investment Fund, First National Bank of River Falls, River Falls State Bank and Security Financial Bank (Morrissette abstained).

Official newspaper – Pierce County Journal (Bjork abstained)

City staff

In the council packet, Human Resources Director Karen Bergstrom provided the council with an update on organizational and staffing changes since the April 18, 2023 organizational meeting.

New positions from May 2023-April 2024 included:

• Facilities manager (reclassification of facilities maintenance supervisor
• Recreation coordinator (reclassification of recreation manager)
• Human resources assistant (reclassification of talent programs manager)
• Management analyst/administration (reclassification of administrative assistant

Since May 2023, nine new employees have filled full or part-time positions in the city

• Amber Tubre, human resources assistant
• Parker Klar, recreation coordinator
• Harley Mehlhorn, senior planner
• Lisha Fairbarin, police officer
• Daniel Murphy, facilities manager
• Peter Lane, wastewater/water operator (in training)
• Sara Kasal, management analyst fellow (temp)
• Joseph Sherman, public works maintenance
• Adam Martinson, municipal project manager

There have been seven promotions/position changes since May 2023:

• Sara Kasal, management analyst fellow to management analyst/administration
• Jennifer Smith, assistant to the city administrator to chief of staff
• Amanda Hanson, human resources specialist to human resources coordinator
• Cindy Campbell, account clerk to customer service representative (lead)
• Wendy Tokheim, customer service representative to customer service representative/billing
• Tim Rixmann, water/wastewater operator to water/wastewater operator (lead)
• Ellen Massey, management analyst fellow (temp) to management analyst/community development

Since May 2023, there have been 10 announced retirements or resignations:

• Jacob McNabb, water/wastewater operator
• Jaime Isaac, talent programs manager
• Ellen Fredrich, administrative assistant
• Jason Stroud, assistant city administrator
• Brian Hatch, electric meter tech
• Samuel Burns, planner
• Kevin Moore, police sergeant
• Cynthia Danke, recreation manager
• Thomas Schwalen, facilities maintenance supervisor
• Janet Burns, senior accountant

And finally, the council voted to cancel the June 11 and July 9 city council meetings.