DUBOIS – DuBois City is moving forward with combining its garbage bills with its water/sewage bills.
At Monday night’s meeting, council members said the city hopes to have the necessary changes completed by the January billing cycle.
Once effective, council said the normal bill amount for garbage collection will appear as a new line item on water/sewer bills for both residents and business owners.
Currently, the city bills property owners for water/sewage usage; garbage, however, is billed to the individual residing at an address. To that end, council said while nothing will change for homeowners, landlords will be billed for their renters.
And, if zoning permits, council said landlords who have multiple units within a building may consider switching to a dumpster to realize a savings.
During public comment, questions were raised about the drug detection dog that the police department will have beginning in early 2020.
Council explained the dog will only alert its handler when it detects the odor of specific drugs.
Police Chief Blaine Clark also reported he intended to send a letter out to local businesses seeking donations for the K-9 unit.
Clark said the drug detection dog will cost approximately $60,000 – $70,000, which included costs associated with training.
He also said the dog’s protective vest will cost approximately $600 – $800, and a police vehicle must be outfitted to meet mandatory specifications.