City Council Recap: Monticello Boulevard Repairs, Combined Trash Service and More

had a short agenda Monday night. Here are the highlights:

Monticello Boulevard

It's time for Phase 3 of the Monticello Boulevard Capital Improvement Project, and council members approved legislation allowing the city manager to apply for state funds. Councilwoman Bonita Caplan said the phase will cost the city around $200,000 and stretches from Belvoir Boulevard to Noble Road. The state will pay roughly $800,000, Caplan said.

The city is hoping the state will pay 80 percent so it can pay a 20 percent match, she said. The total cost of the project is roughly $2 million, said Mayor Ed Kelley.

Last year, the city paved Monticello from Noble Road to Taylor Road and it is now in the process of repairing Mayfield Road to Lee Road.

Solid waste transfer

Council also approved entering into a contract with University Heights to regionalize trash transfer. Caplan said University Heights' contract with its current transfer facility is expiring and city officials were looking for a more cost-effective option, rather than looking for a new private firm.

"Each of their trash trucks is out of service for an hour and a half while it drives to the dump," Caplan said. "Now that they're coming to our transfer center, they'll only be out of service for 20 minutes."

Caplan added University Heights will save on gas money, wear and tear and they'll have a man working more rather than driving.

It's also additional revenue for the city. The contract is good through October 2014, and University Heights has agreed to pay $35.50 per ton through Dec. 31, 2013 and $37 per ton through 2014.

"It's good for us," Caplan said. "It's regionalism, and it's how to work together for the benefit of everyone."

In other business, council declared two homes a nuisance: 3198 Euclid Heights Boulevard and 2502 Princeton Road.