Falls City leaders are working on several new additions and upgrades to different areas of the town, according to discussion at their regular meeting August 9.

Plans were announced to make city water bills available by e-mail within a few months. Having a bill sent to a home by e-mail instead of the postal service will be optional for customers.

City Secretary Lauren Sturm said e-mailed bills will save the city money on postage and stamps, and overdue notices still will go out through the post office via certified letter.

Council members also briefly discussed the city budget, which currently stands at around $303,700. The street fund has a large surplus that will carry over into the next fiscal year, and Mayor Vi Malone said she wants council members to start making plans for 2007 street repairs.

Council members also briefly discussed replacing the cooling towers at the water plant and replacing an old six-inch main water service line near the school through a community development block grant.

Council members authorized Malone to act as the executive officer and city representative presiding over the grant, which will be requested through the Texas Office of Rural and Community Affairs.

The city also changed its policy in regard to its hay-baling lease contract. The same person has leased the land from the city the last few years, and some area residents who want to lease the land have questioned the fairness of that arrangement.

In response, council members agreed to advertise for bids annually, awarding the highest bidder with the lease each year.