(KLZA)-- As Falls City continues to deal with the loss of it's electrical line crew, a step was taken Monday night in an attempt to keep making improvements to the electrical system by having RS Electric from St. Joseph working on general projects 40 hours per week in addition to covering emergencies.

Council President Derek Leyden wrote a letter to the Council urging them to consider changing the parameters of the agreement from responding to emergencies to utilizing the company full-time. Leyden said if some minor things can get fixed during the week, it might help minimize the number of outages occurring nights and weekend.

Councilman Joe Buckminster said that it's important the Falls City Utility customers understand that RS Services will be out working when in town, not just responding to calls when they come in.

It is estimated that having RS Services working a 40 hour week will cost the City $460 per hour, which includes wages and equipment.

With the crew Falls City had before they resigned the cost was $288 per hour but that figure does not include equipment costs.

Falls City Foods Plant Manager Dusty Olberding supported hiring the St. Joe Company to work on the city power projects full time, noting that it is vital that industries have reliable power to operate. He said if we don't have reliable power other industries won't locate here.

Following a lengthy discussion, the Council voted 8-0 to have RS Services working 40 hours per week until the City is able to staff it's own line crew once again.