Council privy to officer's award, outburst over utility bonuses

By Sue Odegard

Like unmatched bookends, a commendation for a member of the city's police force and an angry discussion about bonuses for utility employees began and ended items addressed by the City Council Tuesday night.

River Falls Police Officer Bryant Ekstrom received the Distinguished Service Award from the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association.

Ekstrom was cited for the award after he talked to a man who was threatening to jump from a third story balcony at UW-River Falls on Jan. 22, 1999. Ekstrom was able to convince the man to come down off the balcony following a 2 1/2 hour discussion in the cold.

Several other local police officers and their families attended the ceremony. Ekstrom received the award from Joseph Coughlin, president of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association.

That began the council session on a high note, but it ended with angry accusations about $24,000 in bonuses paid to employees of the River Falls Municipal Utility.

"We have just done a compensation study and learned that the vast majority of our employees are being paid equitable wages," said Mayor Cecil Bjork. "I don't think we can have this type of division. What happens to our compensation study when one party ignores it and does what they want to anyway? This council needs to address how we can get control of this."

The City Council authorized a compensation study that would internally and externally compare salary and benefits with other local units of government and industries - both in Wisconsin and the Twin Cities. Last May, it approved the hiring of DMG-Maximus, Inc., of Madison to do the study at a cost of $24,600.

Bjork and other council members said they were concerned to learn that four River Falls Utility employees received bonuses totaling $24,000 last year.

Council member Ann Dravis was among those angered by the news.

"Is that a good use of utility funds?" Dravis said. "Even though it isn't directly paid by taxes, the money does come from utility payments and I think the rate payers could use a break. We need to take actions to see this never happens again."

City Attorney Steve Goff explained that since 1992, the Utility Commission has been given authority to set the salaries and compensations for utility employees, not the City Council.

"This has opened up a can of worms that will spread," said Alderman Gene Mulhollam. "Where does it end? Won't other city workers want bonuses too? Right now the council is limited on what it can do."

Council member Sharon Graham said the council should be informed about the bonus guidelines set up by the Utility Commission.

Alderman Wayne Beebe added the council should pass its concerns on to the Utility Commission.

Other business:

In other business, the council:

Learned that Jeff Rixmann has been hired as ambulance director for the River Falls Area Ambulance Service. He will start Feb. 7 and earn $34,436 annually.

Beebe asked that a request from Scott Haskins about reducing the 35 m.p.h. speed limit on South Main Street from Foster Street to Cemetery Road be addressed.

Unanimously approved the developer's agreement for the Collins Sixth Addition. Adjacent property owner Aloha Hovde said she strongly disapproved of the action, saying she is concerned about snow plowing, erosion control and drainage issues stemming from the development. Eighteen lots will be developed near Pearl Street and Pine Ridge Terrace on the city's west side.

Approved the appointments of Audrey Alton and Timothy Stout to the Historic Preservation Committee.

Council member Tom O'Connell was absent from the meeting.