Port Arthur City Council, in a special meeting on Tuesday, voted unanimously to amend the FY2012 budget to increase the solid waste department's expenditures by $20,000 for the rental of garbage trucks.

The increase brings the total budget for the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department to $6,730,626.

The city council voted unanimously to ratify the rental of four garbage trucks from Big Truck Rental, LLC for a total of $66,400.

“Due to the ongoing problems with the existing automated garbage trucks having multiple breakdowns, and the resulting delays in residential garbage collection, the city manager has authorized the emergency rental of four automated garbage trucks to maintain the collection schedule,” Public Works Director Ross Blackketter said.

The trucks will be rented for a total of eight weeks, until four new trucks that have been ordered can arrive.

No other action items were on the agenda. Council members Liz Segler, Morris Albright, III, Robert Williamson and Mayor Pro Tem Willie “Bae” Lewis, Jr. were absent. Agenda