Elmhurst Officer Rick Moulis Earns Honor for Bravery

Here's a look at some of the business conducted at Elmhurst's City Council meeting Tuesday:

Officer Earns Medal of Valor

Elmhurst Police Officer Rick Moulis was awarded the Medal of Valor from the Elmhurst Police Department Tuesday night.

Police Chief Michael Ruth presented the medal to Moulis for his response to a domestic situation at an Elmhurst home on Oct. 5 last year. Moulis saw that a man inside the home was threatening three women with a knife, and was able to taser and disarm him.

New Trash Rates Take Effect April 1

City Council members approved a new five-year contract with Allied Waste for refuse and recycling services. The new contract will only offer garbage toters with wheels in either a 65-gallon or 95-gallon size, but most residents are likely to save money. Only those going from a 33-gallon can to a 95-gallon tote will see a price increase.

Allied's fee for the 65-gallon toters will be 23 cents less than the 33-gallon cans, and fees for the 95-gallon toters will be $1.25 less than their current fee beginning April 1. Residents will no longer have the option of using 33-gallon cans.

Third Ward Alderman Michael Bram reiterated concern he expressed late last month, that elderly residents might not generate much garbage and therefore would prefer a smaller toter. He did, however, vote to approve the contract.

Residents who are unsure which size toter they'd like can stop by City Hall, 209 N. York St., and get a look at the two containers.

Aldermen also gave first-reading approval to a report on administrative fees for garbage service. The city charges a fee on top of the hauler's rates to pay for administrative costs in running the program, including "free" leaf pickup day, street sweeping, IT services and staff time. In 2013-14, that cost is estimated at $312,670. The Public Works and Buildings Committee recommended $1 fee on the 65-gallon toters and a $2.25 fee on the 95-gallon toters.

Refuse stickers will increase to $3 and yard waste stickers to $3.25. Currently, stickers are $2.25.

First Ward Alderman Diane Gutenkauf explained the sticker fee increase by saying that the committee needed to make sure the cost for leaf pickup was completely covered, and that refuse sticker revenue is expected to decrease because of the elimination of the 33-gallon cans.

Surplus Ambulance Fees Go Back to the City

Superior Ambulance returned $166,200 to the city on Monday as part of its contract to provide emergency services to residents. According to Superior President David Hill, the company assumes the cost of recovery of ambulance fees from insurance, Medicare and Medicaid claims, and returns any surplus to the city.

Hill said this check was smaller than those presented in previous years because many more patients do not have health insurance.

Road will be Closed for Work at Mariano's Wednesday

Anyone who plans to travel York Road around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, should be aware that southbound lanes from Fullerton Avenue to Industrial Drive are scheduled to be closed to allow a helicopter to install an air-conditioning unit on the roof of Mariano's Fresh Market, under construction at York and Industrial.