The Leitchfield City Council approved Monday, Oct. 20, the first reading of garbage rate increases, then cringed at the prospect of a jump in its health insurance rates next year.

The council took no action on employee health insurance Monday but did discuss the possibility of another provider after rumors about an upcoming 20-30 percent hike in rates for covering city employees.

The candidate provider -- Bluegrass Family Health -- would need action by the council at its Nov. 3 meeting.

Councilman Steve Dennison said the city may have to "talk about cutting out some benefits, if the costs keep rising." The council is expected to compare Bluegrass' plan with the current Anthem coverage over the next two weeks.

Garbage rates for residents would go from $15 to $17 per month, and senior citizen rates would go to $12.50, if the increase is approved at the second reading on Nov. 3.

Commercial rates would see a similar rate hike, depending on the size of the business' dumpster and the number of pick-ups per week.

For example, the cost for a 2-yard dumpster picked up once a week would rise by $3, and the same size dumpster picked up five days a week would rise $16.

In general, the rates would rise across the board by 13 percent above current rates.

The council discussed providing level pay for city services, but decided the option would have to wait for the next update of computers. Current programs are inadequate to handle level pay, but the council gave its nod of approval to future use of the option.

The council approved entering into a 20-year contract with Brandenburg Telecom Company for a fiber cable across the city to carry video, Internet, data and phone traffic.

At a rate of $100 a year, the city is "buying a potential asset," according to Councilman Kelly Stevenson.

Officials from Brandenburg Telecom said they would offer no services locally without first acquiring a franchise. They said the current cables are being installed as a back-up for their communications network, one that could fill in if something happened to their other cable.

The new cable, 14,000 feet of it buried, would intersect the city at Shaw Station Road and exit on Lilac Road.

Before adjourning, the council set trick or treat hours from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, and reminded parents of the Safe Spot at the Grayson County Fairgrounds, a place for children away from traffic.