Some major projects for the Falls City Utilities were discussed during Monday nights Council meeting.  Following the discussion, council members voted moving forward on a project at the electric plant and for engineering services for new water wells and an upgrade to the water plant at Rulo.
    Utility Superintendent Alan Romine explained to the Council that in February, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency made a ruling on emission standards known as the RICE rules that will affect the power plant.  The new benchmarks for emissions must be met by May 3rd, 2013.  ( play audio  :26 seconds ) 
  The good news is that the Board of Public Works believes they can get by with fitting just the two main engines at the power plant with the required equipment and designating the other six engines at the plant for emergency use only.  ( play audio  :42 seconds ) 
The price tag for the two engines is estimated at $181,379.  If the other six engines were done, it would push the price to more than $880,000.
 Romine explained in an interview that the City could choose not to do the upgrades but would lose the opportunity to generate power which helps save money for customers.  ( play audio   :16 seconds ) 
The more expensive project will be upgrades to the water plant at Rulo and the proposed drilling of four new water wells.  Romine touched on the need for new wells or making upgrades to some of the current 10 wells.  ( play audio  :16 seconds ) 
The Missouri River flooding of 2011 caused the City to look at a number of options in case the well field was unusable.  ( play audio  :41 seconds ) 
It would cost $180,000 to raise a well high enough that flood water would not overtop it.  Further review indicates the cost for a new well, already elevated would come in at a price of about $220,000.
 Romine says should the wells be overtopped by flood water,  the water plant is not currently capable of being used in that situation.  ( play audio  :40 seconds ) 
The entire project including four new wells, the plant modifications and engineering fees comes to an estimated 1.8 – 2.3 – million dollars.  Of that total, $235,000 in engineering fees.
 The Council Monday night approved moving forward with the engineering work needed to get the project started.  Each new well is projected to produce around 450 gallons of water per minute.  Four new wells would produce more water than is currently produced by the nine wells in use.
 Romine told the Council that the City would seek grants, or a loan from the state,  look for FEMA mitigation funds or possible even need to use revenue bonds to pay for the project.  He said they feel if any water rate increase is needed to help pay for the project, it should be minimal.