Town Board and Plan Commission — Minutes

TOWN OF RIVER FALLS – REGULAR BOARD MEETING Monday, March 2, 2026, River Falls Town Hall Elected officials and staff present: Terry Kusilek, Chair; Mary Foster, Siri Smith, Joe Mahoney, Brad Mogen Supervisors; Sarah Meyer, Clerk; Don Rodewald, Zoning Administrator; Guests present: Wendy DiPeso, Maureen Ash, Kristin Nyquist, Jerome Rodewald, Mary Merta, Mike Wydell, Dalton Flick The meeting was called to order by Chair Terry Kusilek at 7:03pm. Brad made a motion that the agenda be approved as posted. Mary seconded. M.C. Mary moved to approve the minutes of the February 16, 2026, Regular Board meeting. Joe seconded. M.C. Financial Report/Fire Call Report: Treasurer Rita was absent but provided the Treasurer’s Report via email. The current available balance is $986,552.67. Joe moved, and Siri seconded to approve the financial and fire call reports. M.C. Public Comments & Requests: Mike Wydell, N8224 1015th Street, brought forward concern about damage created by the plow on his street. He considers the damage to be excessive and does not want to continue to fix it. Zoning Administrator Report: Zoning Administrator Don Rodewald provided the zoning report (attached). Joe made a motion to accept the Zoning Administrator’s report. Brad seconded. M.C. Plan Commission Report: Siri shared that the Plan Commission approved the Certified Survey Map for Jared Nelson, N8260 County Road W, and requests Board accept their approval of the CSM. Mary moved to accept Plan Commission report. Joe seconded. M.C. Guest Speaker: Tom Jenkins, Rural Mutual Insurance: Tabled to March 16, 2026, Board meeting Discuss Spring 2026 Newsletter: Sarah shared the 2025 spring newsletter as an example and proposed a plan for the spring 2026 newsletter. Finalize Open Book and Board of Review Dates: Joe moved to hold the Open Book Session via telephone on May 1 from 10am – 12pm and the Board of Review on May 18 from 3pm – 5pm. Mary seconded. M.C. Approve Recycling Committee Appointments: Joe moved to add Chris Fristad to the Recycling Committee. Siri seconded. M.C. Discuss Possibility of a Data Center Moratorium: Tabled to March 16, 2026, Board meeting. Discuss and Take Action on Committee Definitions and Details: Committees are working on preparing information about their respective committees. The information will be presented and discussed at the Board meeting on March 30, 2026. Discuss and Take Action on Licensing and Permitting Processes: A committee has been formed to review Town Codes for accuracy and needed updates. They are starting with Chapter 17 related to Zoning. Board and Staff Communications: Brad complimented Don, Dalton and Rob for installing the new furnace at the shop. Sarah updated the group that the County Board Candidate Forum has been scheduled for March 12. Brad will be unlocking the doors for the group. Sarah requested to hang a “no weapons in the town hall” sign for Election Day. Mary moved and Siri seconded that these signs be hung. M.C. Jerome shared that the Cemetery Committee recently has been working on getting access to Mt. Zion Cemetery. Jerome and Don have met with the Pierce County Surveyor and will attending the Martell Town Board meeting to figure out the status and options for access. Joe moved and Brad seconded that Jerome move forward on gaining legal access to Mt. Zion cemetery. M.C. Terry said the waste oil furnace at the shop is continually an issue. Joe made a motion to remove the waste oil furnace from the shop. Mary seconded. M.C. The River Falls Fire Department contacted Terry requesting to use the town hall for a joint training with UWRF on controlled burns. Audit and Pay Bills Joe moved to audit and pay bills, Siri seconded. M.C. Future Agenda items: • Approve Agenda • Minutes from February 16, 2025, Regular Board Meeting • Financial/Fire Call Report • Public Comments and Requests • Zoning Administrator Report • Plan Commission Report • Guest Speaker: Tom Jenkins, Rural Mutual Insurance • Discuss Possibility of a Data Center Moratorium • Schedule 2026 Roads Tour • Discuss and Approve Impact Fees on Fee Chart • Discuss and Approve Election Day Contingency Plan • Discuss and Approve Ordinance 2026 – 1: An Ordinance Repealing and Recreating Chapter 19 of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of River Falls • Board and Staff Communications • Future Agenda Items • Audit and Pay Bills • Closed Session: Employee Performance and Pay • Adjourn Closed Session to Discuss Roads Department Employees. Joe moved to move into Closed Session under State Statute 19.85(1)(c) consider employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation, data of any employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. Mary seconded. Roll call vote: Mary – aye, Siri – aye, Joe – aye, Brad – aye, Terry – aye. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting moved into Closed Session at 8:38pm. Joe moved and Brad seconded to move back into Open Session. Roll call vote: Mary – aye, Siri – aye, Joe – aye, Brad – aye, Terry – aye. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting moved into Open Session at 8:56pm. Siri moved and Brad seconded to add a Flex Time Policy to the employee handbook materials. The policy shall allow employees to request flex time in lieu of overtime pay. Flex time will be paid 1:1 with hours worked, must be used by the end of the year in which it is earned, or it will be paid out with the employee’s final paycheck of that year as overtime. An employee must have the approval of the Town Chair and may accumulate up to 48 hours maximum. M.C. Joe moved to adjourn. Brad seconded. M.C. Meeting adjourned at 8:59pm.