Falls City council members took care of a few miscellaneous items, including the repair of a water tower cooling motor, during their regular meeting January 10.

The motor, which also helps removes sulfur from the town’s water supply, went bad recently, but hasn’t had an affect on city water due to the recent cool temperatures, according to Falls City Mayor Vi Malone.

The cost to repair the motor was estimated at around $2,000 and a new motor would cost about $6,000. Council members voted unanimously to repair and rebuild the current motor.

They also voted in a new non-sufficient funds policy. Checks returned to the city now will cost the writer an extra $25. Malone said the action was taken due to the amount of people that recently have been paying with checks tied to accounts that had recently been closed.

The school board and city will be having joint elections this year after council members voted for the new policy.

"It’s a new law. Basically, you have to have the school board and the city election held in the same place if at all possible," Malone said. "If we have to have an election, we’re going to have it at the elementary (school) building. They’ll have their own clerks, we’ll have our own. We’ll probably share a judge."

An update on the Veterans Memorial Park project was offered later in the meeting.

Plants, flowers, and greenery have been planted at the front of the park and the basketball court is complete and waiting on goal installation. The two items were the last of several upgrades to the park that have been put in place over the past few years.

Previous upgrades of existing park include a walking trail, a horseshoe pit, and additional fencing.