Council members had a heavy agenda June 13 — including proposals to increase rates for two city services — during their first meeting with new mayoral appointee Brent Houdmann.

Replacing former Mayor Vi Malone, Houdmann has served on the council several years as mayor pro tempore. Falls City council members have decided to forgo a special election and instead have Houdmann serve out the rest of Malone’s term, which will end May next year.

"We decided we’d try to hold a special election in November, and after (City Secretary Lauren Sturm) looked at the laws, she said we don’t have to hold a special election so long as somebody is willing to serve that term through the next election," Houdmann said during an interview after the meeting. "I told the council I would stay on as long as they had confidence in me."

Council members approved two rate increases for city services during the meeting. First on the agenda was a proposed revision of prices for installing water meters, water taps, and sewer taps.

Council compared the city’s rates with other cities in county and found Falls City was charging much less than everyone else. They approved increasing the installation charge to $250 for a standard 3/4 inch water tap, up from the previous price of $165. They also approved bumping the 4-inch sewer tap installation charge from $225 to $350.

Later in the meeting, council members considered rate increases for city garbage collection.

"Their prices went up because of the price of gas and everything else," Houdmann said of the city’s garbage collection provider IESI.

The rates increase the cost to the city and council members voted to adjust garbage collection charges appropriately.

Houdmann estimated the rates will increase about two percent for the average customer.

Council also reviewed the status of the city’s street maintenance project, which has been held up through the bidding process.

The city first advertised for bids back in April.

"We received four or five bids and they were all over the map — from so cheap you couldn’t really believe it to something we didn’t think we could afford — so we decided to re-do the specs again," Houdmann said.

They re-did their project specs and advertised for bids again, but this time, only one company submitted a bid.

Council decided this time to advertise a request for proposals.

"The difference is it’s not actually a bid. If you do a bid, you have to accept all of it or reject it," City Secretary Lauren Sturm explained. "The other way, you can work with them."