(KLLZA)-- The Falls City Council approved advertising for the purchase of a power distribution center that will be part of an electrical upgrade project in downtown Falls City when they met Monday evening.

Utility Superintendent Ray Luhring said it is necessary to get started on the purchase of the equipment for the project which is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2023.  It is anticipated it will take 10 – 12 months to get the equipment delivered.  JEO Engineers suggested going to bid now and the Board of Public Works agreed.

Luhring says the cost estimate for the power distribution center is $860 thousand to just over one million dollars.  

In other business the Council approved the expenditure of $27,500 to enter into an agreement with Miller & Associates to provide survey, design and prepare bidding documents for the replacement of approximately 5200 linear feet of forcemain for the sewer system.  Luhring says the current cast iron pipe line is old and since a new lift station was put in to pump sewage,  there have been two breaks and cracks in the line.  The estimate to replace the line,  likely in 2023 will be in the neighborhood of $500-thousand.  Luhring is hoping grant funds will be available for the project. 

An agreement with Constructed Wetland Group of Florida for services regarding the sludge rehabilitation project at the Wastewater treatment Plant in amount of $80 thousand was approved.  Luhring said some drainage issues with a couple of the reed beds exist now.  The recommendation to clean out the system is every 10 – 11 years,  it has not been done since the system was established 16 years ago.

In a related note,  the Board of Public Works has recommended the City begin a succession plan for Utility Superintendent Luhring who plans to retire December 31, 2023.  The recommendation is to have a new person hired and to shadow Luhring for at least six months, and possibly up to a year before he retires.  The Council approved the plan with the Board of Public Works to begin the process of hiring a new person.  Luhring also recommended the Council recommend if they want an engineer or an engineer preferred but not required in the future.