(KLZA)--The Falls City Council heard various updates from City Clerk / Administrator Anthony Nussbaum when they met Monday evening.

A public hearing will be held in December concerning a $480 thousand Community Development Block Public Works grant application for a sewer rehabilitation project. The Southeast Nebraska Development District is currently drafting the application.

Nussbaum also reported that employees at the City Power Plant are taking part in an operator academy offering training for power plant employees. The 240 hour training program for power plant operators is conducted by Kansas Municipal Utilities. Management staff is completing the program first.

The Council approved the preliminary awards to five eligible applicants for Downtown Revitalization Grants recommended by the DTR Committee. The applicants are:

The Fresh lace at 1819 - 1821 Stone Street which is The Would Eye, a grant of $50,000.

Miller-Monroe, 1608 Stone Street a $30,000 grant; KawreS at 1515 Stone Street a grant of $25,920, Smiley Bee at 1715 Stone Street a grant of $17,7226 and Roland, a business at 1817 Harlan Street a grant of $18,750.

The total grant dollars will total nearly $142,400 with total project costs of more than $217,000.

The Council also approved hiring Midwest Engineering Inc. for design of the Phase III Downtown Revitalization Streetscape Improvement Project.

A proposal was approved for establishing a Parks and Recreation Director for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year. The position would absorb the role of the Aquatic Park Manager and would provide leadership and oversight for the Parks and Recreation Department including maintenance and upkeep of city parks, trails, recreation facilities and public open spaces.

Based upon experience it is anticipated the annual salary for the position will be from $55,286 to $69,035.