In an attempt at avoiding a large raise in the fees Evansville residents pay for trash collection, the city is changing some of its policies.

Still, an increase of between $3 and $4 for the average household is probable for 2010.

The extra cost for trash collection will come in the same year that sewer fees are recommended to in

crease between $2 and $3 to pay for improvements meant to prevent flooding on Evansville's Southeast Side.

That's what officials with the Sewer & Water Utility proposed Tuesday at a planning meeting for the city's 2010 budget. But before either increase can take effect, it must be approved by the City Council.

Councilman Curt John, D-at large, said he wants more time to study the proposals. He also asked Sewer & Water Utility officials to compile a list of how much those services cost in nearby cities.

Jim Garrard of the Sewer & Water Utility said the average Evansville household now pays $10 a month to have its trash picked up. It also pays $23 a month for sewer service.

Explaining the need for higher collection fees, Garrard said they are a product of contract negotiations with Allied Waste, the company hired to pick up residents' trash. Allied, which was bought by Republic Services in December, is faced with a greater cost of doing business and wants to pass some of that on to the city.

Garrard said the proposed increase in collection fees would have been greater if it weren't for a number of policies officials want to adopt in 2010.

In one important change, residents will give up trash cans and recycling bins in favor of two 96-gallon containers. Rather than placing them along alleys, the containers will be set out by the street. They will be constructed so garbage trucks can latch on to them and empty them automatically. Costs will drop because fewer garbage workers will be needed.

One of the containers will be designated for recyclable waste. Rather than have crews separate that into different types materials such as plastics and papers, it will be taken to Tri-state Resource Recovery, at 135 S. Garvin St. Any needed sorting will take place there.

Speaking of the raise in sewer fees, Garrard said it is needed to pay for a $25 million project meant to deal with flooding on the city's Southeast Side. The increase will go to repay money the city hopes to borrow from the state, he said.

About $3 million in federal stimulus is going to the project. The work will bring a main sewer line from around Washington Middle School along Ravenswood Drive, down Evans Avenue and along Sweetser Avenue to the Bee Slough storage basin.

The construction is expected to begin in 2009 and take 21/2 years.

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HEARINGS TO CONTINUE

The City Council will continue hearings on the proposed 2010 budget through Thursday.

The meetings are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. each day in Room 307 of the Civic Center. The public will be allowed to comment Thursday.

Once the hearings are finished, the Vanderburgh County Council will have 60 days to approve the proposed budget.

It then will go to the City Council on Oct. 19 for a final approval.

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