Falls City council members discussed water, transportation, and housing issues during their regular meeting Jan. 9.

The largest concern on the table was the massive water leaks the town had faced during the previous month and the shortage of utility workers. Until recently, the town only had one man performing utility duties and Mayor Brent Houdmann said the department has been stretched thin.

"We’ve had a lot of water leaks in town," Houdmann said. "Last week, we had an eight-inch water link break which is pretty significant," he said. "When we got that fixed, right after we had another water line break. We lost several thousand gallons of water."

All the leaks have been repaired, thanks in part to the San Antonio River Authority that sent help during the water emergency.

The city has hired more help recently, though. Another crew member with utility licenses has been added to the crew and Houdmann said the addition should help relieve the demands on the utility department.

Council members also heard from the city’s auditor, Wayne Beyer & Co. Falls City has been behind on getting audits done for previous years, but the 2005-2006 audit has been completed and Wayne Beyer & Co. reported the city’s books all look healthy for that fiscal year.

City council members also voted to provide $170 in annual funding to a transportation service provided by the Alamo Area Council of Governments. The funding ensures AACOG will provide transportation for certain qualifying indigents that need rides to doctor appointments and other necessary meetings.

Earlier in the meeting, council heard from Pumpkin Culpepper, the new head of the Falls City Housing Authority. Culpepper recently took over for retired housing authority head Caroline Whitfield.

She briefly addressed council members on how she would handle the new job and also promised them regular updates on housing authority happenings.