HIGHFILL -- The city council, on Nov. 8, approved a contract for trash service in the new year and authorized money to stripe and letter another police car being used by the city.

The trash contract with Republic Services for $11.10 per customer per month was approved on three readings with a single vote, and an emergency clause was also adopted, to put the ordinance in effect soon enough to begin the new service in January. The plan accepted provides for weekly trash pickup of items placed in a provided polycart and for the pickup of one bulky item per week.

The city approved a bid for $1,500 to purchase the police department's used but not-running Dodge Charger, and the council authorized the expenditure of up to $800 to stripe and letter a Ford Crown Victoria transferred to the city and now being used by the police department. The balance of the $1,500 will be put in the police department's savings account.

Also passed on three readings with a single vote was an ordinance to approve the final plat for the Pautsky Lane subdivision. A condition of the approval would be sealing the cracks and later, after houses are constructed, resealing the entire street. Plans include the construction of nine additional homes in the subdivision (one is there now).

A proposed budget was presented to the council for review, with a special council session scheduled on Tuesday night, after press time, to consider the budget and make any necessary changes before it is brought back to the council for adoption.

Council members asked the mayor to speak with the police chief about scheduling to provide more patrol on city streets, especially around the city park and on streets on which through truck traffic is prohibited.