FERRIDAY &045; On Tuesday, Ferriday came one step closer to improving streets not overlaid in the late 1990s.

In March, the Ferriday Town Council approved an ordinance to accept the best bid for purchase of $1.28 million of bonds for street improvements and police and fire protection.

The sale of the bonds will probably take place in the fall, with property taxes to be used during the next 10 years to pay off the bonds.

And on Tuesday, the Town Council voted to apply for $551,000 in grants to help pay for the remainder of the project. They also voted to hire Bryant Hammett to do engineering work on the project.

That and other public works issues took up the bulk of Tuesday’s meeting.

Town officials discussed the possibility of raising sewer and water rates due to rising costs, including the cost of gas and insurance.

&uot;We’d need to raise sewer (bills) by $9 and garbage by $5.50 (a month) just to break even&uot; in those departments, Mayor Glen McGlothin said.

That would bring sewer bills to $15 a month and garbage bills to $14.50 a month.

&uot;Unfortunately, we don’t have a big company to take over a tax burden that big, so it falls on us,&uot; McGlothin said. &uot;I won’t lie to you &045; we’re in a heck of a fix.&uot;

However, no action was taken on the matter of rate hikes Tuesday.

In a related matter, the council voted to direct its Finance Committee and Town Attorney Anna Brakenridge to meet on the matter of negotiating a garbage contract with Diamond Disposal.

Negotiating with Diamond &045; the town’s current garbage company &045; or another provider could save money on the town’s garbage service costs, McGlothin said.

He also expressed hope that the town could save money if it can hook into Concordia Waterworks District No. 1’s water lines once the district’s new water plant is online.

Later, McGlothin took pains to mention to those gathered at the meeting that the rust that has been showing up recently in Ferriday’s water is due to the replacement of water lines.

The old cast iron pipes are being replaced with plastic ones &045; but, in the process, rust is shaken up and results in discolored water that is harmless but can ruin clothes.

&uot;Just ruined one myself,&uot; McGlothin said, holding up a jar of water with rust particles floating in it.