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Residents press council on sign rules; city administrator highlights door-to-door transit service
Summary
Public commenters raised concerns about sign enforcement and praised the city’s hydroelectric generation; City Administrator Scott described River Falls' door-to-door public transit (about 9,000 hours a year) supported partly by roughly $100,000 annually in local tax dollars.
At the Nov. 25 River Falls City Council meeting, two public commenters spoke during the open-comment period and the city administrator gave a service update.
Paulie Cudd, a lifelong River Falls resident, said recent changes to the city sign ordinance resulted in citation of his art/display signs as off-premise signs despite prior permissions from property owners (including Kwik Trip and a bank). Cudd said he had complied with setback rules previously and asked whether business signage that meets setback requirements is treated the same as real-estate signs. The clerk enforced a two-minute public-comment limit; Cudd asked the council to consider his situation.
William Hanson, identified with a River Falls address, urged residents to appreciate the city’s locally produced hydroelectric power, saying the hydro plant runs '24/7' and offering it as an example of buying local energy.
In the administrative report, Scott (City Administrator) reminded the community that River Falls operates over 9,000 hours per year of affordable, door-to-door public transit. He said the service is funded primarily through federal and state gas tax revenue with a local tax contribution of about $100,000 annually and some county support; he characterized the system as a reliable, affordable alternative to fixed-route buses.
What happens next: Council did not take formal action on the sign enforcement concern during this meeting; staff follow-up would be needed to address individual citation disputes. The city will continue transit operations as described and pursue grant and lease actions approved in the consent agenda.
