OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — Garbage and recycling prices in Oil City could be going up next year warned Oil City Manager Mark Schroyer.

“We could see an increase of at least 10 percent in garbage and recycling charges next year,” Schroyer told the Oil City Council at Thursday’s meeting. “The contract expires at the end of June 2019, and we are looking at a significant increase to the garbage and recycling rates.”

According to Schroyer, it’s the recycling that is driving the cost up with the Chinese market being the driving force.

“There also isn’t a lot of competition here,” Schroyer said. “Last time, we only had one company bid for the contract. In Pittsburgh, there are four or five that bidding for the contract.”

Schroyer, who brought the topic of recycling and garbage rates up during his report to the Council, also noted that there was a chance that water and wastewater rates could also increase in the 2019 budget that will be released at next week’s meeting being held at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in the council chambers on the second floor of the City Building.

COUNCIL PARTIALLY APPROVES REQUEST CONCERNING CORNPLANTER SQUARE REHAB

In a light meeting, the council also partially approved a request from Emily Lewis, the executive director of the Venango County Economic Development Authority, for closures around the Cornplanter Square Building rehabilitation project.

The council approved allowing the parking lot at the rear of the building to be used for staging, parking, dumpsters, etc. for the duration of the project. It also approved the closing of sidewalks on Seneca and Sycamore Streets surrounding the building.

But, the council refused Lewis’ request to have a section of Sycamore Street that runs along the building closed during construction to provide access to the building.

The reason for the refusal was because that part of the roadway is the only way to get to Luther Street.

“It’s a public safety issue,” Oil City mayor Bill Moon said.