(KLZA)-- The Falls City Council approved an ordinance on final reading Monday night to allow sales tax revenue to be utilitzed for public infrastructure imporovement projects.

The ordinance allows the issuance of up to $3,100,000 in municipal improvement bonds to help pay the costs of construciton of public infrastructure improvements in the city, primarily electrical system updates.

The Council also approved advertising for construction bids for the upgrades to the Electrical Distribution System Project recommened by the Board of Public Works and Utility Superintendent Ray Luhring. The bid opening will be conducted by JEO on December 8 with their recommendation to the Board of Public Works on December 15. The Council will be asked to award the bid during their December 19 meeting.

The cost of the work is estimated at $425 thosand for work at the switchyard by the power plant and $1,723, for the work to put the power underground.

It is anticipated the project will be completed by December of 2024.

Luhring also updated Council members on the relocation of the water main from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Reailroad bridge near Preston, to a bored line under the Nemaha River at the site.

The estimated cost about 18 months ago was approximately $900 thousand. Since that time, issues came up and the total cost is now estimated at around $1.9 million. The cost to the City will be $178 thousand with the railroad responsible for $1.691,000 of the total cost.

The Council also approved a professional services agreement the JEO for GIS Services that will aid the city's utility departments. The cost will be $51,051.