NATCHEZ — The Adams County Board of Supervisors and members of the Natchez city government got together Monday morning to talk trash.

But instead of a session of bad-mouthing each other, representatives from the two governments were working together, opening bids for joint proposals they had solicited for trash pickup contracts in an effort to have better bargaining leverage.

All of the supervisors and Natchez Mayor Butch Brown, Alderman Mark Fortenbery, Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis and City Clerk Donnie Holloway were present for the bid opening, which was in the board of supervisors board room.

Board Attorney Scott Slover and City Attorney Hyde Carby opened the bids.

The bids, which were given at a rate of per house per month, were for twice weekly trash pickup. The bids included prices for county-only pickup, city-only pickup and combined pickup.

The submitted proposals, which were dozens of pages long, also included a recycling pickup option.

Red River Service Corporation, RES, WastePro and Waste Management submitted bids.

After the opening, the supervisors took the bids under advisement and instructed County Administrator Joe Murray to work with Slover to determine which bid or bids were best for the county.

Carby also opened bids for waste disposal — landfill — services for the city from Waste Management and Riverbend Environmental Services.

The aldermen will also act on the bids at a later date.