Crothersville residents will see a $3.50 increase in the monthly cost for trash pickup and recycling beginning in January. Currently residents pay $19.00 a month for weekly trash collection and bi-weekly recycling. That fee will be going up to $22.50 unanimously approved by the town council last Tuesday.
The town council sought bids for the monthly services and only Rumpke of Indiana—the town’s long-time provider—submitted a bid.
Rumpke’s bid for the three-year contract was $19.85 per month per customer for 2024, going to $20.65 in 2025 and then to $21.48 in 2026.
The council opted to increase the fees charged to residents for the three-year period to prevent annual price hikes.
“The higher fees charged to residents provide us with the financial cushion to have large trash collection two times a year,” said clerk-treasurer Danieta Foster.
“While this is a price increase to residents, it is still cheaper than the $30-$40 monthly cost for trash collection if they contracted privately,” said councilman Jamy Greathouse.
Crothersville utility customers will see the price increase with the January 2024 utility bill.
In other town business, the council approved a parks board request to spend $2,900 to have 13 shade trees planted at Bard Street and Veterans’ Park.
The parks board also got approval to install electric at Veterans’ Park to light a gazebo and to procure informational signage on each park’s history and date of establishment.
In other matters, local resident Melina Joslin was appointed to the Unsafe Building Board to replace Danieta Foster.
The town presented the monthly community service award to the Crothersville VFW Post 1083.
The town’s Christmas parade was set for 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2.