LORRAINE — The cost of trash service in Lorraine will remain the same for the next year.

After meeting on Sept. 21 with Tony and Christa Lamia, owners of Slechta Enterprises LLC, the Lorraine City Council renewed the trash contract for one year. The only change to the contract was the name Slechta Enterprises was changed to Slechta Enterprises LLC. The rates Slechta charges will remain the same — $14.75 per month for residential customers, $18.55 per month for commercial customers, and $50.05 per month for the Central Prairie Coop. There is an additional $1 handling charge to each of these applied by the city.

In other business:

• The council received disappointing news from maintenance officer Larry Klug regarding the unexplained loss of water the city has been tracking for several months.

According to city clerk Michael Boyer, Klug talked with a person knowledgeable in water wells recently and he looked at the city’s north water well. There are two check valves on the well, one at the top and one at the bottom. Either could be the source of the leak.

The water well was installed in 1937 and both valves are original valves. The person estimated it would cost $1,555 each to replace the valves.

No action was taken by the council.

In other business:

• Theresa Staudinger, city attorney, confirmed the old railroad property was reverted back to adjacent land owners. Letters will be sent to those landing owners giving them 10 days to mow their properties or the city will mow them and charge them $50 per lot.

• Lorraine Fire Chief Joe Travnichek said a member of the fire department recently moved to Alaska. However, he has since gained a new firefighter, so membership is steady.

• Travnichek said the Lorraine Fire Department is hosting a pot luck supper from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at the firestation. The public is invited. The meal is free of charge.

• Travnichek, who also serves as the city animal control officer, said he received a complaint about a dog running loose in town. Travnichek found the owner and told him to register the animal.

• Travnichek said the shaft on the city’s mosquito sprayer broke, but he scavenged parts from another sprayer and installed them. The city now has one functioning mosquito sprayer.

• Erick Birks, a new resident of Lorraine, said he purchased the house on Wichita Avenue and is hauling loads of junk from the home to the dump. Birks also said he was relieved the city has a burn pile for tree limbs. Birks said he was interested in bidding on the property on the corner of Wichita Avenue and Main Street. The property is being put up for auction during the county’s upcoming property tax sale in October. He has the equipment to demolish the house and wanted to know if the city had any plans for the property or are interested in acquiring the property. The council told Birks the city had no interest in the property.

• Mayor Dennis Boyer appointed Travnichek to be the city’s compliance officer. The council approved the appointment.

• Council member Cassy Vedder said she completed and sent in a grant application to purchase a new mosquito sprayer.

• Vedder raised concerns about kids possibly getting tangled in a rope hanging loose on the flag pole in the city park. Travnichek said he would remove the rope since no flag is displayed on the pole.

The next meeting of the Lorraine City Council will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 15, at city hall.