EATON — The City of Eaton is seeking to increase the refuse collection charges in the city. During a council meeting on Monday, July 17, council voted to approve the first reading of Ordinance 17-08, which will change the monthly charge for each residential unit to $19.85.

According to City Manager Brad Collins, the city did not increase the trash rate last year and have received a rate increase from Rumpke on the new contract period.

Collins added, he is recommending to council a one dollar per month increase.

A second reading is required during the August meeting. If approved, the change will be effective Sept. 20 and residents will notice the change on their bills due on Nov. 15.

Council also approved normal transfers of funds from the general fund to special revenue funds. They transferred $225,000 to the Public Safety Fund, $16,250 to the Recreation Fund, and $16,250 to the Fort St. Clair Fund.

In other business, council approved three different resolutions, all looking to dispose of property the city no longer needs.

The first was Resolution 17-33, which allows the Eaton Police to get rid of six Remington shotguns at a trade-in value of $160 each to the licensed firearms dealer, Kiesler’s Police Supply Inc. They will be purchasing six replacement guns.

“We had purchased three of these last year. We had bought three new ones and traded in three old ones,” Police Chief Chad DePew said. “These six additional weapons will get the remaining cruisers outfitted with the same weapons. We’re going to get all all of our cruisers outfitted the same way.”

Council also voted to dispose of the Public Maintenance Division’s 2012 Econoline tilt trailer which has been replaced. They will list it online for sale at internet auction, at a minimum selling price of $3,000.

The final item council voted to dispose of is the Fire Division’s 2006 Blazer which has recently been replaced. They will list it for sale at internet auction at a minimum selling price of $3,600.

In other Fire Division news, for the month of June, Eaton Division of Fire and EMS made 138 EMS responses — including nine back-up EMS calls — and 101 fire/rescue responses, including two general alarms. They received mutual aid one time and provided mutual aid two times.

As for heroin overdose responses, the Eaton Fire and EMS made 11 responses for the month of June, an increase of only one from May’s total.

The next City of Eaton council meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m.