VIDALIA &045; Vidalia businesses will see higher rates for garbage collection next month.

Aldermen voted unanimously Tuesday to adjust the commercial sanitation rate schedule.

Starting Oct. 1, business owners will see their rates more than triple, in some cases. An example given to the board called for an 8-yard load picked up three times a week to jump from $22-$28 to $93.75.

The new price reflects the cost to the city plus a 20 percent increase, thereby allowing the sanitation department to make, instead of cost, the city money, officials said.

The same load currently costs Waste Management customers more than $300.

&uot;This is still an excellent value,&uot; Copeland said.

&uot;I wish I could get you over to Ferriday to the hospital,&uot; Alderman Vernon Stevens, Jr. said.

&uot;You’d love to get those rates,&uot; Copeland quipped.

During the meeting, there was also much praise for the workers, citizens and leaders of the city in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Hundreds of storm evacuees are staying in the parish in shelters, hotels and private homes.

&uot;I want to tell you, I’ve never seen anything like it in my entire life, everybody coming together,&uot; Mayor Hyram Copeland said in closing remarks.

In other business:

4The board approved the hiring of an after hours emergency room doctor for River Park Medical Center.

4The board voted to continue the process of rezoning land on Carter Street from open land to commercial.

The frontage road land is the proposed future site of Wal-Mart.

4Shumclay, LLC. may proceed with laying down gas lines on the 11 acres on Concordia Avenue where it will begin building a housing subdivision.

4The board approved an address change for Lavonne Hair and Beauty Supply. The Mustard Seed and Imogene’s Restaurant were both approved for change of ownership.