• Bids for trash removal have been reviewed as the contract with Waste Management ends March 31. Council received bids from Waste Management and A-1 Sanitation.

Waste Management proposed a bid of $18 per household with additional surcharges for environmental waste and fuel of approximately $1 each per month.

A-1 Sanitation, owned by Thomas Arnott and based in Tuppers Plains, submitted a bid of $12 (up to five 32 gallon bags) plus a fuel surcharge of an additional $1 per household. Arnott’s commercial rate was $30.58 cheaper per month than Waste Management.

Council voted to contract with A-1 Sanitation for one year with the option to renew. Billing for residents and business owners will begin March 1. Residents will have the $13 trash rate added to their water bill. Commercial customers will be billed directly by A-1 Sanitation.

Notice of the changes will be hand delivered by Mike Sheridan.

Residents are encouraged to purchase trash cans to keep stray animals out of the trash bags as Waste Management will be reclaiming their cans. Apartment owners will need to put in a dumpster or pay an additional $13 per unit so each unit will be able to take advantage of the five 32 gallon bag usage.

• Council opted to pay M.E. Companies the outstanding balance of $27,000 in order to “put the experience behind us and get on with the sewer project”. John Rauch of Rural Housing Assistance Program agreed that was the best course of action and advised council to wait until the payment clears before hiring the next company.

• Council will set up interviews for Wednesday, March 14 with the three companies expressing interest in the sewer project: Triad Engineering Corporation of W. Va., ADR & Associates LTD of Newark, Ohio, and Michael Baker Jr., Inc of Charleston.

• Mayor Paul Harris also proposed adding ten hours per week to Sheridan’s schedule for as long as it is feasible for council to do so. Mike was commended by the Mayor and council for his hard work and dedication to the community.