DEMOPOLIS &8212; Advanced Disposal gave city leaders two options last night: Keep the monthly fee the same and lose one pick-up per week or keep two pick-ups per week and pay up to $5 per month more.

Advanced Disposal, who bought Arrow Disposal, is under contract with the city for waste management through the end of the year. However, a new contract must be settled by Oct. 1 with Advanced Disposal to keep the current rate of $12.22 per month.

Gerald Greene, area president of Advanced Disposal, told council members that it would be impossible to continue two pick-ups per week at the current rate. He said no other municipality has two pick-ups per week.

Councilman Jack Cooley challenged Greene&8217;s proposal, asking him how &8220;we can sell to the citizens that they are going to pay the same rate for half the service.&8221;

Greene said higher gas prices are among the reasons for the need to cut the number of pick-ups. Additionally, he said 60 to 70 percent of trash is picked up on the first pick-up of the week.

Greene said most houses do not put out trash on the second pick-up. Cooley said Greene could visit his street and see cans out at every house during both pick-ups.

Greene said it would cost approximately &8220;$4 to $5 more per week to have two pick-ups each week.&8221; To offset the loss of a pick-up, Greene said residents could be given additional containers. Those containers, however, would cost residents either $55 to purchase or $4 per month to lease.

Councilman Woody Collins moved that the decision to be tabled until the council recives public input.

Cooley said he wants to bid the services out if Advanced insists on cutting the pick-ups but the rate the same.

In other business, the council:

4Gave Mayor Cecil P. Williamson the authority to sign a bond agreement in the amount of $5 million for the Demopolis High School stadium complex.

4Received a report from the state congratulating Public Safety Director Jeff Manuel on the police department&8217;s record of having a low-incident record for employee injuries. Only three officers were hurt in the past year, and all three injuries were minor.

4Tabled a decision on reopening Roman Alley. The utility board said the city would not be able to handle reopening the alley without assessing property owners for work that would have to be done. Councilman Charles Jones, who expressed disappointment with the utility board&8217;s decision, asked that the motion be tabled until he could speak with the street department.

4Went into executive session to discuss &8220;trade&8221; with a developer.