The company that collects trash in Keene just picked up some extra cash.
The City Council April 19 approved a request by Laura Catehart, municipal services manager for Allied Waste Service, to increase the monthly fee for collections in Keene by 30 cents per month.
“Our five-year agreement with you calls for an annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index,” Catehart told the council. “The CPI has risen 3 percent and that would mean a 30-cent increase.”
The Allied rate to the city increases from $10.09 per month to $10.39. However, there will be no increase to residents at this time because the city will absorb the increase based on what it already charges its customers, city administrator Bill Guinn said.
Residents inside the city limits currently pay $10.76 per month. Residents outside the city who are customers of city water and sewer pay $16.14 per month, Guinn said.
This is the start of the fourth year of the contract with Allied and the charge to city customers has not increased since the contract was signed in 2009, Guinn noted.

Councilman Dale Janes made the motion to approve the Allied rate increase. It was seconded by Councilman Chad Aden and approved unanimously.
In a related matter, Catehart said liners for Allied’s blue trash containers are available online at www.kleen-karts.com, www.ourshippingsupplies.com/cartbag.asp and www.plasticbags.bz/cartbag.asp.

In other business,
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the council:
• Approved a request by Crest Water Company and Keene resident Jim Dyche to purchase the water storage tank on the former Brandom Cabinet property near the corner of Magnolia and Mockingbird.
The scrap metal value of the tank is $4,160 and Crest will buy the tank and remove it for $5,000, Guinn said.
The city was interested in moving the tank to near Doc’s RV Park but a bidder wanted to $86,000 for the project, Guinn said.
Councilman Jere Slough made a motion to sell the tank to Crest. It was seconded by Janes and approved unanimously.
• Approved a request by public works director George Evans, made in his absence by Guinn, for eight street repair projects. Evans is on vacation.
The projects are: North College from Magnolia to Oakdale; Spruce between Third and Fourth streets; Fourth Street from Old Mansfield Road to Oakhill; First Street from Eastern to Mockingbird; Eastern Street between Third and Fourth streets; West Oakdale between North College and Old Betsy Road; Pecan between Fir and Elm and Second Street between Fairview and North College.
Materials for the projects will cost $41,662, Guinn said. The work will start as soon as repairs are complete on Pioneer and Maurice, he said.
• Appointed Lee Corwin to the parks and recreation board for a two-year term.
• Appointed Jimmy Hudgins to the athletic association for a two-year term.
• Discussed a request by parks and recreation board president Donny Gore to fund movies at Elisa Carver Park for $350 per movie subsequent to approval by the Keene Community Development Corp.
The first movie will be in June, Gore said. The item was tabled pending consideration of funding by the KCDC.
• Approved a recommendation by Guinn to lease copy machines for City Hall and the police department from Alliance Office Systems.
The meeting opened with Aden praising KPD officer Chip Krieger for assisting Aden’s neighbor in opening a locked  car door.
In addition to Aden, Janes and Slough, council members Roger Ackermann, Gilbert Perez and Cheryl Schram were present along with Mayor John Ackermann.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council will be 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3, in the council chambers at City hall.