The man indicted on four counts of theft related to missing funds in River Falls has reached out to the town and said he wants to return property illegally transferred to him in 2008.

Richard Moss, 47, who was the housemate of then-Mayor Mary Hixon when the property was transferred, contacted Councilwoman Mattie Freeney recently.

“(Moss) contacted me and said his attorney is in the process of returning the property to the city,” Freeney told the town council Tuesday night.  “He said he would pay all the fees and the taxes for this year.”

The illegal sale of the Sunnyside Street property by Hixon to Moss was uncovered by The Star-News and is at the heart of a criminal investigation that led to their arrests.

Hixon, 91, served as the town’s mayor for more than 30 years.

In October, she pleaded guilty to the theft of more than $200,000 in town funds over the last three years. Included was $90,000 in salaries paid to three people who never worked for the town, including Moss.

Moss, who also constructed a business called Conecuh Feed and Seed on the former town hall property, was indicted on multiple four theft charges and is currently free on a $135,000 bond.

Tuesday, River Falls town council member Mattie Freeney said Moss reached out about the property.

Council members agreed to have Councilman Richard Bowden follow up with Moss about the transfer.

“I want to make sure that he will do it,“ Bowden said.

The night was productive for the council, which met before a standing-room-only crowd at town hall. Some 30 people attended to hear discussions on the water system, business license fees and surplus vehicles. No action was taken on implementing the business license ordinance.

In other business, the council:

• heard a personnel report of those working for the town;

• voted to take bids for grass cutting;

• agreed to seek a new city attorney;

• voted to pay the electric bill and insurance premiums.

• agreed to further research garbage collection.

• declared four police cars as surplus;

• voted to fix the leak at the water tank; and,

• discussed the water billing.