RIVER FALLS — New City of River Falls Fire Chief Justin Wilson was sworn in at the May 13 City Council meeting.

“Tonight is one of those moments where community, service and hometown pride all come together, and if that doesn’t sound like River Falls, I don’t know what does,” Mayor Dan Toland said.

Wilson started with the department in 2013 as a volunteer and eventually became captain, a role he has held since 2019. Wilson won Firefighter of the Year in 2018.

“Today, we entrust this leadership to someone who’s not only earned the respect of his peers, but who has lived and breathed in the department for 12 years,” Toland said.

Toland claimed Wilson leads with integrity, empathy and level-headed decision making. The River Falls Fire Station is receiving a notable renovation, giving Wilson a major project to look after from day one.

“It’s been a great journey to get here,” Wilson said. “We’ve got a great department, great city and really, really looking forward to this opportunity.”

Development updates

The council approved a developer’s agreement and purchase agreement with Mega Chef Equipment, with the proposal to construct a 10,000 square-foot industrial building in the River Falls Industrial Park.

“The company is a small family-owned business where they buy existing commercial kitchen equipment, rehab it, and resell it. The company was originally located in California but now lease space in Minnesota,” city documents state.

Mega Chef Equipment is taking the last lot in the industrial park, taking on a minimum taxable value of $750,000 and cumulative minimum tax payments of $141,000 over 10 years.

An easement was granted to St. Croix Gas at the 1984 Woodridge plat.

“The proposed project will support increasing natural gas demands in the St. Croix Gas distribution system outside the city and provide increased reliability and accommodate future growth within the city,” city documents state.

The property is currently used for stormwater management, and the city stated the current use will not be impacted negatively.

A second reading of the annexation of property at 53 Woodridge Drive and 555 Powell Ave. for a proposed 24-unit twin home development was heard and approved by council.

The Current (2892 Radio Road) includes 106 apartment-style units in four buildings, and council approved to take on water utilities at the site.

“The installation of public utilities was approved as part of the DA approval process and only included the water utilities. The DA further required the developer to guarantee the workmanship and materials used for a period of 14 months, creating a warranty for those public improvements. The developer shall bear sole cost and expense for repair or replacement, including any workmanship or material that becomes defective during the warranty period,” city documents state.

Council approved an agreement with Security Financial for city banking services. River Falls already had their banking services through Security Financial, and the approval meant a new five-year term with an optional five-year extension for five more years under the same conditions. First National Bank of River Falls was the other bank in the running; however, Security Financial’s cost was $4,168.20 a year and First National’s was $6,116.40. The Review Committee recommended the Security Financial proposal.

A resolution was adopted to award the city’s DNR Urban Nonprofit Source Stormwater Management grant stormwater modeling and analysis work to MSA Professional Services. The city won the grant in 2023 and will be reimbursed 50% up to $170,000 for the analysis work. MSA’s proposal came with a cost estimate of $127,230, with half coming from the grant.

TD&I Cable Management was awarded $373,090 for the 2025 directional boring contract. The project includes new electrical services, underground cable replacement and wire conversion.

Approximately 25.4 acres at Powell Avenue near North Winter Street was forwarded to the Plan Commission to consider annexation from the Town of Troy to the City of River Falls. The current plan is for an 86-lot single-family subdivision to be built on the property.