Pictured from left are Town Council President Mandy Espinoza, Vice President Matt Brubaker and Council Member Tom Barker. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

PIERCETON — Pierceton residents will now pay higher prices for trash collection and utility services.

At its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 10, at the Pierceton Community Building, the Town Council approved ordinances for the rate hikes, which go into effect with the Feb. 16 billing cycle. The hikes are in response to rising costs.

For garbage collection, rates are going up from $9 to $11 a month.

For sewage and water, rates are being raised over a three-year period.

Based on the first 2,000 gallons a month of usage, monthly sewage rates will go up to $16.12 in 2022, $16.44 in 2023 and $16.77 in 2024.

For water, customers will pay $9.31 for the first 3,333 gallons used per month in 2022, $9.50 in 2023 and $9.69 in 2024.

In other business, the council:

• Heard from Town Police Chief Tim Sammons that the police department has received the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant it applied for to help pay for four in-car radios and eight portable ones. Due to that, it will no longer need to use American Rescue Plan Act funds Kosciusko County leaders have allowed area police departments to use for the radios.
• Heard from Sammons that he wants to meet with Town Council President Mandy Espinoza about developing a plan to replace former Pierceton Officer Ryan Piper. Piper recently resigned to take a job with the Warsaw Police Department. Espinoza agreed to meet soon.
• Approved a quote brought by Town Superintendent Casey Boggs to purchase a new $7,325 storage container from Container Sales Group in Illinois to store the town’s new Christmas lights.

The council’s next regular meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, at the community building.