By SUSAN BERG

Managing editor

Marion City Council gave the go-ahead Monday evening to change a city ordinance which would reduce trash pickup to one day a week for residential customers.

City Administrator Doug Kjellin told the council that $8,500 was budgeted in 2011 for fuel expenses for the refuse route. With current fuel prices at $3.94 per gallon for diesel and the truck getting 3 miles per gallon, the city would spend $12,600. With the current economic situation as it is, it is doubtful fuel prices will stay the same or decrease, Kjellin said.

Currently city workers pick up household waste from residential customers twice a week for a total of four days — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. If the residential route was reduced to one time a week or a total of two days — Mondays and Tuesdays — it could cut 20 percent in fuel costs or a minimum of $10,000 annually at current fuel prices.

The remainder of the time could be used to pick up commercial refuse and as needed for projects and assignments. The cost would be reduced because the commercial route isn’t as many miles as the residential route.

The city council had considered reducing the service to once-a-week in the past but information at that time indicated it was not going to save the city a sufficient amount of money to be feasible.

Kjellin said he had seen a map that indicated there were numerous areas in the city that would not require the truck to travel when picking up residential refuse.

The county transfer station is located in Marion and city residents can take household waste to the facility if once-a-week pickup is not sufficient.

Another issue of concern is residents setting out trash too early and animals tearing bags, causing trash to blow in neighborhoods. The city has a plastic cart available to residents for $91 for those who have no place to store trash.

The council agreed it was time to cut back on unnecessary expenses with possible changes to be reviewed at the April 4 meeting.