SCOTT CITY WILL OFFER NON RESIDENTS YEARLY TRASH PICK UP SERVICE

SCOTT CITY -- People who live within a half mile of Scott City will be able to take advantage of city trash pickup, the Scott City Council voted Monday.

Non-residents within that area will be offered a one-year contract for trash service at a rate of $8.50 per month.

A total of 38 people will be affected by the ruling. The cost of the service can be raised under the terms of the contract, as long as the city gives the residents 30 days notice.

"We're guaranteeing the service, not guaranteeing the price," said Council member Brenda Moyers.

The cost will probably go up just two times per year, as the city's landfill and dumping costs increase and are passed on to residents.

A suggestion to charge residents outside the city limits a per-month cost of $15 for trash pickup was struck down.

Also nixed was a month-to-month contract that allowed residents to cancel trash pickup with a month's notice. The 12-month contract will give enable the city to more accurately project revenue from trash pickup fees, Moyers said.

Council member LaDonna Phelps also pushed for the year-long contract.

"It gives both the city and the residents a little bit of security than a 30-day contract," Phelps said. "I think in most instances, most contracts are drawn up for a year."

Moyers said a 30-day contract wouldn't be cost-effective for the city.

Phelps also suggested the city bid on providing Kelso with trash pickup. But only Moyers supported the idea, and the suggestion was not voted upon.

In other business, the city will likely crack down on people who allow recreational vehicles to be parked on their property for longer than a few days, if the vehicles are hooked up to city water and sewer.

A city ordinance forbids any recreational vehicle or travel trailer to be hooked up to city water and sewer service for longer than 72 hours.

Mayor Larry Forhan said he received a complaint about an RV being parked in a neighborhood for several weeks. Council member Terry Johnston said he knows of two other RVs parked on private property.

Phelps said the ordinance should possibly be reconsidered so that the RVs are allowed to hook up to city services for possibly a week. But it should not allow for permanent residence in the RVs.

In a separate issue, the mayor said many streets signs in the city are in disrepair. He said city workers have compiled a list of signs that need to be replaced. An estimate on the cost of replacement will be done soon, he said.

A study is also being done on the cost of solving drainage problems in the Country Club subdivision, the mayor said.

A city-wide drainage study was discussed at a council meeting last month, but no action has yet been taken.