Dan Toland

Welcome to… where are we? Late summer, early fall, or somewhere in between? I hope everyone is doing well and getting ready for a full slate of fun fall stuff: Football, raking leaves, football, cooler temps, football, hunting, football, lutefisk, Oktoberfest celebrations, and I almost forgot, football!
With football season comes the Monday morning quarterbacks. We can all be guilty of critiquing a decision after the fact, feeling sure that we have all the answers, wondering why “they” didn’t just think of “this” perfect solution. We do this not just with football, but a whole range of topics.
The city works hard to provide avenues for you to provide your input before we make decisions. Did you know that, before the City Council passes a new ordinance, it receives two separate public hearings? Meeting agendas are posted on the city website the Thursday before each City Council meeting, providing you the opportunity to learn what items the council will be discussing and voting on. (Reminder: the council meets at City Hall Council Chambers on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.) For those unable to attend, each meeting is streamed live on YouTube.
The council doesn’t just listen to public input at council meetings – you can reach out to councilmembers by email anytime to share your questions, thoughts, or concerns. The great thing about local government is that we are here to serve you – not far away in Washington. We are your neighbors right here in River Falls, and we're always available to learn how we can best meet your needs.
The city uses long-term planning to shape a collaborative vision of our future, and staff work hard to create engagement opportunities during the development of these plans. In August, we implemented safety improvements at the intersection of Main Street and Division Street. This was a pilot project, funded by an AARP Community Challenge grant, to test out new traffic calming measures. The intersection was identified by you, the community, as a problematic area for bicyclists and pedestrians during the development of the Bike & Pedestrian Plan in 2022. The city applied for the grant to begin bringing the action items from the plan to life. Our actions are directly informed by the feedback we receive from you.
We're currently partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which is conducting a feasibility study for a potential river restoration project on the Kinnickinnic River. The USACE is exploring the environmental impacts of removing Powell Falls Dam, Junction Falls Dam, or both. On Tuesday, Aug. 15, the USACE and the City hosted an open house at the River Falls Public Library to share their initial findings and obtain public input. When the USACE makes a final recommendation in winter 2024, the public will be invited to review and provide feedback on the proposal.
We’re all guilty of leaning into the tendency to be a Monday morning quarterback, but remember that this isn’t Sunday football. You’re not just watching the game – you’re part of the team. We want you to join us in the decision-making processes that shape our city.
Until next time.
Go Pack Go!