The town of Hope is holding off on a plan to implement a town-wide trash service.

The town accepted bids last month for the trash service, but town officials say that they are waiting to make a decision.

Town Council President Clyde Compton explains the wait:

Town Manager J.T. Doane said that the the town wants to see the effect of a recently enacted trash ordinance that requires residents to clean up their properties.

About two thirds of the people contacted have already cleaned up their property. But there are some who are in danger of getting the $25 a day fine the town agreed to levy in the new ordinance, Doane said.

Town officials are also waiting see whether a rate hike proposed by Eastern Bartholomew Water Company is approved. The water company has proposed a rate hike of almost 50 percent on its water customers, which includes the town of Hope. The proposed trash collection fee would have been added to the town’s water bills.

Compton explains:

He said that the bids from potential trash collectors actually came back even lower than expected. One bidder in particular would offer substantial savings for residents already paying for their own trash pickup, Compton said.

A hearing on the Eastern Bartholomew Water Corp. rate hike will be held tomorrow night in Taylorsville. That starts at 7 at Taylorsville Elementary.