FERRIDAY &045; Effective next month, Ferriday’s water and sewer rates will rise due to escalating costs, a town official confirmed Wednesday.

The Ferriday Town Council voted in a special meeting held Tuesday to raise sewer bills by $9 a month and garbage pickup bills by $5.50 &045; to $15 and $14.50, respectively.

&uot;It’s the only way we can cover the cost&uot; of providing those services,&uot; said Councilman Billy Rucker, who noted the rate increase is the town’s first since the mid-1990s.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the council voted to solicit new bids for the town’s garbage pickup service, a contract currently held by Ferriday-based Diamond Disposal.

In a regular meeting held earlier this month, town officials discussed the possibility of a rate hike due to rising costs, including the cost of gas and insurance.

&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 during that meeting. &uot;I won’t lie to you &045; we’re in a heck of a fix.&uot;

At that time, he also said negotiating with Diamond or another company could save money on the town’s garbage service costs.

McGlothin could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.

The Democrat was not given notice of Tuesday’s meeting, although town officials said notice of the meeting was posted at town hall.

Louisiana law states that media outlets that request notice of meetings must be given notice at least 24 hours before the meeting in the same manner by which council members are notified.

In Ferriday, meeting agendas are hand-delivered to council members.