Ash Grove trash bill going up

Thanks to rising fuel costs the charge for trash pick up will be increasing in Ash Grove. At the June 6 meeting of the Ash Grove Board of Aldermen, the board was asked by Max Murray, with trash service provider GFL, to OK a 5 percent fuel surcharge on trash collection when gas prices are $5 or more.
For the average trash cart, that equates to an increase of 51 cents per cart, and a similar increase for senior citizen customers.
The board agreed to the, hopefully, temporary up charge, and was understanding of the company's predicament.

Raises for employees
The board also voted unanimously to raise wages by 2 percent for four city employees; two maintenance workers and two clerks. The wage hike will be conveyed in the new budget year.

In other news
Returning for consideration was the issue of obstructions, as well as basketball goals, in city streets. While the board passed an ordinance prohibiting such at the May 2 meeting, it was later deemed invalid as the board was incomplete. Now, with all seats on the board filled, the first reading of the new ordinance was read at the June 6 meeting. The first reading passed by a 3-1 vote, with Alderman Ty Thornton dissenting. The ordinance will not pass or fail until the second reading, which will likely happen at the next official meeting.

Special guests
Attendees of the meeting included members of the Scouts Troop 376 out of Pleasant Hope, who were there to earn their Communication Merit Badge. However, when asked to introduce themselves the Scouts had nothing to say.