City utility customers can expect a little more in their bills between now and the end of the year.

Mayor Ken Purdy said this week that’s how city officials will inform the public of the trash rate increase and pickup schedule. The packet, which each customer should have before Jan. 1, will also include the 2009 holiday schedule.

Billing statements received after Jan. 1 will reflect a $12.50 charge per month for residential curbside collection and $16.50 for small commercial curbside collection. The rates reflect a $2.25 per month increase. Collection will also go from two pickups a week to once a week.

The increases were approved Nov. 17 by Tahlequah city councilors.

“Consistently, statewide utility surveys reported by the Oklahoma Municipal League show that Tahlequah customers pay among the lowest rates in the state for solid waste services and other utilities,” Purdy said in a letter to ratepayers.

Purdy said the need for a rate adjustment was critical when the council considered the proposal last month.

Tahlequah senior citizens living on modest incomes are offered an exemption from the rate increase. The exemptions are for homeowners 65 years of age and older with household incomes not larger than the median household income level for the county. The mayor said the requirements are the same as those established at the state level for senior relief on county property taxes. Senior citizens seeking the freeze must provide a copy of their current year ad valorem tax to City Hall.

Both sides of West Allen Road and East Downing will be picked up Monday, and both sides of West Choctaw and East Fourth Street will be picked up Tuesday. The new schedule calls for both sides of West Fourth Street to be picked up Wednesday. Both sides of Muskogee and Grand Avenues will be picked up according to the slated day applying to the east or west side of the street.

If a holiday falls on Monday, the cycle will be a day behind (Monday trash picked up Tuesday, Tuesday trash picked up Wednesday, etc.). If the holiday is on Wednesday, Wednesday trash will be picked up Thursday, and Thursday trash will be picked up Friday. Normally, Fridays will be leaf, yard waste and junk load day, and customers will need to call 456-8332 for arrangements.