Annual Meeting of the Electors — Minutes

TOWN OF RIVER FALLS – ANNUAL TOWN MEETING Tuesday, April 21, 2026, River Falls Town Hall Elected officials and staff present: Terry Kusilek, Chair; Siri Smith, Mary Foster, Joe Mahoney, Jerome Rodewald, Supervisors; Don Rodewald, Zoning Administration; Rita Kozak, Treasurer; Sarah Meyer, Clerk. Others present: Dean Bergseng, Greg Elliot, Tami Gregg, Wendy DiPeso, Jim DiPeso, Greg Smith, Pat Singel, Linda Singel, Kristin Nyquist, Marcella Rodewald, Maureen Ash, Bonnie Jones-Witthun, Victoria Rader, Richard Purdy The meeting was called to order by Chair Terry Kusilek at 7:04pm. Chair Kusilek asked the group how they would like to vote. Joe Mahoney nominated Greg Smith and Maureen Ash to be counters for hand count votes. Siri Smith seconded the motion. Motion carried with 22 ayes, 0 nays. Chair Kusilek presented the minutes from the April 2025 Annual Meeting. Joe Mahoney moved to approve the minutes of the 2025 Annual Meeting Minutes. Dean Bergseng seconded. Motion carried with 22 ayes, 0 nays. 2025 Income and Expenditures: Rita Kozak presented the revenues from 2025. Total revenues for 2025 were $4,756,036.08. Sarah Meyer presented the expenditures from 2025. Total expenditures for 2025 were $4,697,761.02, which was 14.26% increase from 2024. Town Road Report: Terry Kusilek shared updates from the Roads Department. In 2025, Don Rodewald and Brad Mogen completed a full inventory of bridges and culverts 6 to 20 feet. The Town purchased a new tractor as well as a truck cab and chassis. Rob Schaar and Dalton Flick, the Town’s Roads Department employees, hand shoveled about 90 ton of patching on town roads, which is a large increase from past years. Recycling Center Report: Joe Mahoney shared information about a new program starting in May 2026 that will require town residents to present a permit to get reduced pricing at the Recycling Center. Rita Kozak presented the information in the annual report regarding the Town Recycling program. Zoning & Building Permit/Building Inspection Program: Don Rodewald, Zoning Administrator, shared a summary of the actions of the Zoning Program in 2025. Cemetery Report: Jerome Rodewald, Cemetery Committee Chair, provided a report of the activities of the Cemetery Committee in 2025. Parks and Recreation: Mary Foster gave updates on the Parks and Recreation Committee actions throughout 2025. Rural Fire Association Report: Terry Kusilek is the Town’s representative in the Rural Fire Association. He said that the Association entered into a 20 year contract with the City of River Falls to help pay for new fire hall. The approximate expense is $.30/day per residence over the 20 year contract. Other Information/Reports: Sarah Meyer swore in newly elected Town Board Supervisors joe Mahoney and Jerome Rodewald. Dean Bergseng asked how the Town planned to sell the old snow plow truck and indicated that the Town may be able to work with the county to get it on the state surplus auction. Terry replied that the truck sale is a topic on the May 4, 2026, town board agenda to discuss what the plan may be. Bonnie Jones-Witthun, 950th Street, has lived here for many years and has a growing concern about groundwater in Pierce County. Is the Planning Commission taking the Pierce County 5 year groundwater study into account? Do we have a committee related to groundwater and how it impacts the town? Jerome shared information about the Farmer-Led Watershed Group. There was further discussion about which aquifer is being monitored and discussed. Maureen Ash stated that she has been impressed with this Board and their work. She said she has always been proud of how the town government operates in the Town of River Falls. Maureen said she felt that the CAFO Committee was a lot of meetings and discussion but was disappointed in the result. She doesn’t feel that it is right that it is more complicated to start a coffee shop at home than it would be to bring in 5000 cows. She indicated that she liked the option that was presented to the committee to require a conditional use permit for a CAFO. Would the Plan Commission be willing to look at that topic again? Terry shared that a committee is currently reviewing town code for organization and making sure that it is all up to date. Bonnie stated that Maureen’s concern about CAFOs is related to her concern about groundwater. She was involved in an issue in another municipality where the town struggled to get restrictions in place fast enought o prevent damage from a CAFO coming in. Don requested approval of Resolution 2026 - C - Annual Meeting Resolution to Dispose of Town Property PARCEL 022-01058-1000. This resolution will authorize the town to investigate the sale or trade of town owned property on 800th Street. Richard Purdy made a motion to approve Resolution 2026 - C - Annual Meeting Resolution to Dispose of Town Property PARCEL 022-01058-1000. Pat Singel seconded. Motion carried with 22 ayes, 0 nays. Don requested approval of Resolution 2026 - D - Annual Meeting Resolution to Dispose of Town Property Parcel 022-01064-0400. This resolution will authorize the town to investigate the sale or trade of town owned property on 770th Avenue across from the town hall. Mary Foster made a motion to approve Resolution 2026 - C - Annual Meeting Resolution to Dispose of Town Property PARCEL 022-01058-1000. Greg Smith seconded. Motion carried with 22 ayes, 0 nays. Don made a motion that the Town Board put together a committee to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of changing the Town Clerk and Town Treasurer positions from elected positions to appointed positions, with the goal of presenting a proposal at an appropriate town meeting in the Fall of 2026. Maureen seconded the motion. Set 2027 Annual Meeting Date: Joe moved that the 2027 Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 2027, at 7:00pm at the River Falls Town Hall. Mary seconded. Motion carried with 22 ayes, 0 nays. Public Recommendations to the Board Joe moved to adjourn. Don seconded. Motion carried with 22 ayes, 0 nays. Meeting adjourned at 8:42.