Slight Fuel-Adjustment Increase Approved To Bethany Waste Removal Bills

Bethany’s Board of Aldermen approved several ordinances that create zoning changes within the city during a meeting held Tuesday night.

The ordinances include a change for property owned by Richard and Tammy Easton on 23rd Street from Residential to Highway Business. That change had previously been approved several years ago but never put in the form of an ordinance. That change was approved by a 3-1 vote.

Land owned by Harrison County Community Hospital for the site of a new hospital campus was rezoned from Industrial to Highway Business.

Property owned by Leona Weddle, Andrew Callaway, and Steven Hendren was approved from Industrial to Agriculture. Property owned by Ike Cox was approved from Residential to Agriculture on a 3-1 vote. Property owned by Bethany Fair, Incorporated was also approved from Residential to Agriculture.

The council agreed to pay Porter Trash an extra $2 per month for residential waste removal service for the rest of the year. The city will increase the bill for city customers by $1 per month, meaning that residential will pay a total of $3 more in total for the rest of the year. Porter Trash requested an increase of $4.13. The city will then re-evaluate the situation at the end of the year.

The council directed City Administrator Jacob Taylor to purchase natural gas on the futures market for 2023 and 2024. The action came after a meeting with Todd Riley of Constellation regarding the stability of the gas market. Bethany will purchase natural gas for $6.70 per decatherm in 2023 and $5.45 per decatherm in 2024. The city current pays $3 per decatherm.

The Street Paving work for the City of Bethany has been moved back from this fall to the spring of 2023.

Council members approved the demolition of a property on 120 North 16th Street for $48,500. That is higher than the budgeted amount of $30,000, but the city did not use that money.

Council members approved the wall located between 16th and 15th street on Alder Street. The estimate for the work is $3,500.

The council also approved the purchase of two trucks at the session.