RIVER FALLS — The River Falls City Council approved a plan for water and sewer projects within city limits after hearing a presentation during the Aug. 12 meeting.

Senior Civil Engineer Chris Buntjer spoke on the plan, which was based on assessments of condition and maintenance needs.

“While our system is generally in good condition, the modeling did identify two projects that might be needed sooner rather than later,” Buntjer said.

Buntjer listed two interceptors as items around 50% capacity, which means it’s time to consider upsizing. Probable construction costs for the two projects sit around $2.5 million total. Those interceptors are the Common Interceptor and the significantly larger Lametti Interceptor.

The projects will be up for approval in the upcoming Capital Improvement Plan draft. If approved, construction for the Lametti upsizing is expected in 2027 and 2028. Current 14–18-inch pipes would be increased to 24 inches during the project.

The Lametti Interceptor empties into the Common Interceptor, so construction for Common would take place in 2031, upgrading pipes from 24 inches to 36 inches.

“If the City Council decides to move forward with the Kinni Corridor Project, city staff will do our best to work with the Army Corps to coordinate these crossings here of the Kinni while they are doing their work,” Buntjer said.

“The remaining projects on this list, those generated by the study, will only be necessary to accommodate future annexations and developments outside of our existing service area,” Buntjer said. “This is very useful information for capital cost studies associated with annexations.”

During the water project portion of the presentation, Buntjer presented $10.49 million in recommended projects for the next 20 years. Projects in the next five years totaled $4 million, with the largest being $3.1 million for the north zone well and facility.

The Golf View water tower is currently being sand blasted and recoated, with the entire project expected to be complete in around a month. The project was included in the next five-year list with an estimated cost of $500,000.

Looking ahead, a $2.8 million east zone 400,000-gallon elevated tank is proposed 5-10 years out. A $1.1 million south main zone booster station (10-15 years out) and a southwest main zone booster station for $1.1 million (15-20 years out) are the two other projects over $1 million in cost over the 20-year plan.

Council Workshop

Prior to the meeting, council held a workshop to decide on priorities for the community.

“This is not meant to be aspirational or stretch, these are meant to be an identification of priorities of the community via the council about things that you expect us to get accomplished,” City Administrator Scot Simpson said.

Council members gave the directives, and city staff put together a list of strategic initiatives for 2025-27.

Of the 12 directives from 2023-25, just one initiative was not either completed or in progress, being a cooperative boundary agreement with the Town of Clifton. Simpson said Clifton “politely” declined, so the initiative was not completed.

The 2025-27 initiatives were split into categories of community, economic vitality, financial sustainability and quality municipal services. Within the categories, recommended initiatives were the Kinnickinnic River Corridor Plan’s First Phase, a Safe Streets Action Plan, Glen Park Phase II, a Downtown Master Plan, continued infill in corporate parks, innovation center expansion, examining impact fees, the fire station remodel, the library remodel, a public safety communications upgrade and a public utility infrastructure assessment.

Simpson also listed future considerations that just missed the cut from being initiatives, including Hoffman Park Master Plan review, a DeSanctis Park Master Plan, feasibility for added corporate park sites and a fourth regional park and a comprehensive housing strategy.

“Given the aggressive nature of our Strategic Initiative Plan already, I just don’t recommend that we add these in at this time because I think we’re going to dilute our ability to provide quality performance on those others,” Simpson said.

Simpson also cited previous council feedback that the Kinni Corridor Project would essentially serve as a fourth regional park.

Council members discussed a few of the initiatives, along with the items that missed the cut, before approval, with full discussions available on the city’s YouTube channel.

Other business

• Approved filing for exemption for the county library tax.
• Approved the second reading of miscellaneous traffic control updates.