SILVERHILL, Ala. — Citing increased costs from the Baldwin County Landfill, the Silverhill Town Council voted Monday night to approve a 30 percent hike in garbage pickup rates for the town.

“This is something we have to take care of right away,” said Mayor Tim Wilson before Monday night’s vote.

County landfill costs rose 25 percent over the last year and council members were given prices to raise rates 25 percent or 30 percent. Council member Bert Jones moved to increase rates 30 percent, which was passed unanimously with all council members present.

Under the new rate system, residential rates will increase from $13.30 per month to $17.29 per month; commercial rates will go from $21 to $27.30 while senior citizen rates for residents 62 and over will go from $11.10 to $14.43 per month. Large-item pick ups will also increase from $10 to $13 per event.

In other business Monday, the council approved a measure to set rates for making copies of photos and DVDs or tapes for use as police department evidence.

Police Chief Kim Wasdin said the rates would cover the cost of paper, ink and maintence, as well as the cost for the time it takes to complete the task, when printing black and white and color photo copies and DVDs of video evidence which are provided to attorneys in a trial situation.

“We have had several instances where we provide photos and DVDs to attorneys, they get lost and we have to make more copies,” she said. “I believe that if we charge for these services, which we are allowed by law to do, then some of that duplication might not be necessary.”

The police department will now charge $5 for black and white photo copies, $8 for color photo copies, and $25 for DVDs or tapes.

The measure passed unanimously with Council member Jared Lyles, a local attorney, abstaining from voting.

The council also voted Monday to deny a measure to increase the town’s reserve police officers from three to six. Wasdin said the town currently pays $125 liability insurance for each of the three officers provided. The police department currently has enough funds to provide insurace for the three additional reserves, Wasdin said, and would not use additional officers if funds were not available.

Shirley Stephens made the motion to change the town’s ordinance, which was seconded by Rodney Criswell, both of whom voted for the measure. Jones, Lyles and Steve Brooks voted against the measure with Wilson abstaining.

“I don’t have anything against this,” Brooks said, “I just think we need to look into the matter further before we do this.”

Wilson asked that the matter be placed on the agenda for the council’s next meeting March 2.

In other business Monday, the council:

— Voted unanimously to deny the purchase of an ad in the Robertsdale Rotary Foundation’s Rodeo program.

— Tabled a measure to purchase advertising in the Tid-Bits newspaper.

— Voted 5-1 to deny a request from the Central Baldwin Educational Foundation for education grants totalling $150. Wilson voted against the measure.

— Announced that the town would be giving away trees as part of its Arbor Day celebration beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28.

— Approved the purchase of an eighth-patge ad in the 2009 Gulf Coast Newspapers Progress Edition in the amount of $172.80 by a 5-1 vote. Criswell voted against the measure.

— Voted unanimously to deny the purchase of a sign for the Robertsdale High School softball field.

— Voted to allow Court Clerk Amy Macon to attend a Regional Seminar for Court Officials in Mobile at a cost of $145.

— Voted unanimously to deny the purchase of a Drug Abuse Prevention Campaign for WHEP radio.

— Approved the purchase of a batting cage for the ball fields at a cost of $450. Wilson asked Superintendent of Utilities Steve Williams to look into cost of construction for concrete floor and indoor/outdoor carpet for the cage.