With Waste Management increasing itsgarbage collection fees to the city and aldermen mulling digitalwater meters, water and garbage services were a topic of discussionat Tuesday night’s city board meeting.

    Deputy City Clerk Marsha Fairman, filling in for City Clerk MikeJinks, reported to the board Tuesday night that Waste Management isincreasing its rates to the city.

    Its pick-up rates are increasing from $12.10 to $12.59 per unit, a49-cent jump. Disposal rates are moving from $38.81 to $40.39 perton, a $1.48 increase.

    Waste Management’s increased fees became effective Oct. 1.

    In September, the city board voted to increase its minimum chargeson water, sewer and garbage by 50 cents each.

    “We went up on our rates and thank goodness,” said Ward FiveAlderman D.W. Maxwell. “That will barely cover it.”

    Under the city’s contract with Waste Management, if gas pricesincrease over a certain length of time then Waste Management canincrease its rates. Likewise, if gas prices go down over a certainlength of time, Waste Management must decrease its rates.

    Ward Four Alderman Shirley Estes asked if the city could considerdropping to once a week pickup, but Mayor Les Bumgarner said thecity is locked into its current pick-up schedule through the end ofthe current contract.

    The city’s contract with Waste Management will not expire foraround two more years, Bumgarner said.

    Ward Six Alderman David Phillips saw another cost-saving measure hewanted the board to consider.

    “This is a good argument for recycling,” Phillips said. “It reducesyour tonnage.”

    Phillips has been a strong advocate for a citywide recyclingprogram in recent months. The alderman said he has been indiscussion with a representative from the Department ofEnvironmental Quality, which is interested in creating a recyclingcenter in the area.

    “They want to create a regional recycling hub for SouthwestMississippi,” Phillips said. “We’d like to be that hub.”

    Phillips suggested the board consider a work session on thesubject.

    The aldermen also voted Tuesday night to advertise for bids on newwater meters. The city must restock its meter suppliesannually.

    The board took the vote as an opportunity to discuss thepossibility of digital water meters at some point in thefuture.

    Digital water meters are much more accurate, Bumgarner said. Thecost of the water maters would thus be offset over time byincreased revenue gained through more accurate readings of waterusage, he said.

    Alderman at Large Karen Sullivan expressed concern about potentialside effects.

    “Would this replace any jobs?” Sullivan asked.

    Bumgarner said there are different kinds of digital meters, some ofwhich do not require a meter reader and some that do.

    Though the board seemed interested in the possibility, the citywill retain its standard meters for the immediate future.